Wood Species Guide
Cypress
Taxodium distichum (pond cypress is often treated as T. distichum var. imbricarium)
Also called: Bald Cypress, Pecky Cypress, Sinker Cypress, Pond Cypress, Swamp Cypress, Red Cypress, Tidewater Red Cypress, Gulf Cypress
What Cypress looks like
Heartwood runs from pale straw to a warm tan or reddish brown, and old-growth or sinker logs pulled from rivers can be much darker. Sapwood is a creamy yellow-white. Pecky cypress shows pockets of dark brown where a fungus hollowed out channels in the living tree.
Grain and texture
Straight grain with a medium to coarse texture and a soft, slightly greasy feel. Growth rings are easy to see, and the flat-sawn faces show strong cathedral figure. Pecky boards add long, finger-like voids that run with the grain.
Working Cypress: planing, cutting and gluing
Cuts and planes easily with sharp tools, though the softer earlywood can crush or fuzz if knives are dull. It glues well and takes nails and screws without splitting much. Sand with care, because the soft rings dish out faster than the hard ones on a random-orbit sander.
Finishing Cypress: oil, film finishes and epoxy
Takes oil, hardwax oil and water-based finishes well, and it looks great with a simple clear coat. The natural oils in old-growth heartwood can slow some oil-based finishes, so test first. For epoxy, seal pecky voids and end grain with a thin coat before a pour, because the porous pockets will push air bubbles up into the resin.
Durability, stability and Florida humidity
Old-growth heartwood earned its reputation as the wood eternal and resists rot and insects well. Fast-grown second-growth cypress is noticeably less durable, so don't assume every board is the old stuff. It is fairly stable once dry, which makes it a good pick for Florida porches, ceilings and trim, as long as outdoor pieces get a finish and good airflow.
Shop notes from our Fort Myers shop
Cypress is Florida's own building wood, and pecky cypress is a favorite for mantels, accent walls and rustic tables. Because it is soft, a cypress tabletop will dent from keys and plates, so we steer people to it for shelves, benches, signs and wall pieces more than heavy-use dining tops. Pecky voids can be left open for texture or filled with tinted epoxy for a dramatic look. Reclaimed sinker cypress is a different animal from new lumber, with tight rings and deep color, and it is worth asking about if you want the real heritage look.
Common uses for Cypress
Siding, porch ceilings, beams, trim, boatbuilding, outdoor furniture, mantels, accent walls, signs and rustic tables.
Sustainability and CITES status
Not listed in the CITES Appendices, and rated Least Concern by the IUCN. Old-growth stands were heavily logged a century ago, so most new cypress today is second growth, while sinker and reclaimed cypress comes from salvage.
Safety and toxicity
- Respiratory / asthma
- Sensitizer (allergy builds with exposure)
Serious reactions are uncommon. Bald cypress has been listed as a mild respiratory sensitizer, so people with asthma should keep the dust down.
- In the shop
- Dust collection and a good mask when sanding
- Food contact
- Not recommended for cutting boards, bowls and utensils
General information, not medical advice. See a doctor if you have a reaction.
Bald cypress has been reported as a respiratory sensitizer, though serious reactions are uncommon. Use dust collection and a good mask when sanding.
Cypress in stock now
Ask us. We can often source it.
We don't have Cypress listed online right now, but new slabs and lumber come in all the time and not everything makes it to the website. Tell us what you're building and we'll check our racks and suppliers.
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