The crown of the young tree is narrowly pyramidal, becoming irregular and flattened with age. The Bald cypress is an wetland species. It is a signature species of the southern coastal swamps and is well known in coastal areas, where it occurs at the edge of lakes and rivers and other low, wet areas. Bald cypress may reach ages of between 1,000 to 2,000 years. Bald cypress is a deciduous conifer, with its short-needle leaves turning brown and falling in October and November.
Bald cypress reproduces well from seed, and stump sprouts vigorously.
Its megastrobili form mature seeds during a single growing season. The microstrobili, born on pendulous axes, appear in the autumn before they release the pollen. Harold C. Bold, Constantine J. Alexopoulos, and Theodore Delevoryas.