Chesapeake City Tree

Chesapeake City Tree

The Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum), Chesapeake's official tree, is a native whose unmistakable character reflects the distinctive natural heritage of the city.

The Bald Cypress, one of the few trees that can thrive in standing water and wet soils, produces the famous conical "knees" that emerge from the root system. It adapts to a wide range of other environmental conditions and is a popular tree in ornamental horticulture. Many residential and commercial locations in Chesapeake use the Bald Cypress in their landscaping projects.

Significant horticultural characteristics include:

1. Soft textured feather-like needles
2. Excellent reddish brown fall color (Bald Cypress is one of few deciduous conifers.)
3. Distinctive round, green cones
4. Attractive fibrous, reddish brown bark
5. Few disease or pest problems
6. Long lived (potential 1,000+ years)
7. Wind resistant
8. Height to 120 feet
9. Cultivars include a weeping form to 20 feet high and a small form to 10 feet high

The Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council recommended the Bald Cypress for the City tree, and the City Council approved it by Resolution on February 12, 2013.

For information or questions about the Chesapeake Environmental Improvement Council (CEIC) or its projects, call the Special Programs Office in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism at 757-382-6411.