Ask Margaret
Intriguingly beautiful cypress trees
can be found throughout southern
states, Florida and the Tampa Bay
area despite the trees being heavily
harvested over time for their durable,
nearly waterproof, rot-resistant wood.
Pond and bald cypress trees, relatives
of pines and junipers, thrive here,
as do the thin, columnar Leyland
cypress trees, which are hybrids that
are commonly used in landscapes,
either singularly or in a row as a hedge
or privacy screen. Of the three, the
pond and the bald cypress trees seem
to raise the most questions because of
their adjacent appendages, which are
known as “knees.”
Cypress trees’ stump-like knees can
usually be seen sticking up out of the
water. Although these knees are often
incorrectly thought of as the trees’ roots,
they are actually appendages that grow
vertically skyward from the trees’ surface
roots. Since the upper portions of the knees
rise above the high water line, the knees
may serve to bring much needed oxygen
to the trees via the submerged root systems
from which they originate. The knees may
also somehow act as filters to protect the
trees from pollutants and silt. In addition,
the knees and the cypress trees’ deep roots
are thought to physically stabilize the trees
during high winds, while also helping
to prevent the erosion of the soggy soil
beneath and around them.
by Margaret Word Burnside
I’ve received several questions
about cypress trees, ranging
from “What are those roots
sticking up around them?” to
“Is this tree in my yard really
a cypress?” and “Do cypress
knees really glow in the dark?”
Here are some of the answers.
Harvesting cypress knees, when done
carefully, will not harm the host trees or
their root systems. This is fortunate, since
during the mid-20th century, a great many
were severed and used as lamp bases,
decorations and souvenirs.
140 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019
Bald cypress trees can live under either
wet or dry conditions. They thrive near
moving water and are excellent choices
for low-lying, flood-prone locations.
They are often found in landscaped
yards, parks or other domesticated
areas. The up-to-100-feet-tall, bald
cypress trees have up-to-10-foot
circumferences and straight tapered
trunks encircled with indentions. The
trunks and branches are layered with
almost scale-like, silvery or rust-colored
bark. The trees’ small, feather-like
leaves vary from pale green to silver
and drop in the autumn, while still
attached to twig-like little branches.
Bald cypress trees may have a few, or
no knees at all, usually depending on
their proximity to water. Fewer knees
are more practical in landscaped areas
because they can be hazardous obstacles to
both people and lawn mowers. Young trees
are often planted as outdoor Christmas
or other ornamentals because of their
pyramidal shape. Proper placement is
essential, since the pretty little trees can
grow into giant shade trees with flat tops
that may sprout knees.
According to legend, the knees of the
cypress trees can glow in the dark. While
I was not eager to remain in the murky
cypress woods at night in Charlotte County
to see for myself, several very reliable
sources at the Babcock Ranch assured
me that the cypress knees truly do take
on a rusty red glow in the dark. A portion
If you have any questions about the
people, places or things in the Tampa
Bay area, please send them to
“Ask Margaret” at Tampa Bay Magazine,
2531 Landmark Drive, Suite 101,
Clearwater, Florida 33761.
We regret that not all questions
can be answered.