Chinese Swamp Cypress
Glyptostrobus pensilis (lineatus)
Pickup available at Aiken Nursery
Usually ready in 2-4 days
Glyptostrobus pensilis, the Chinese swamp cypress, is a living fossil and one of the rarest conifers on earth, the last surviving species of an ancient lineage that once ringed the Northern Hemisphere. A deciduous conifer of the cypress family, the swamp cypress is a near-twin of the American baldcypress, sharing the same feathery, soft green foliage, the same love of standing water, and even the same habit of throwing up woody knees from the roots in wet ground. In autumn the foliage turns a warm bronze-red before falling.
The story of this tree is a sobering one. Once widespread across southern China, the Chinese swamp cypress has been all but erased from the wild, drained, logged, and flooded out of existence, and survives today mainly because Chinese farmers have planted it for centuries along paddy banks and rivers. The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the species as Critically Endangered, with only a few hundred truly wild trees left, most of them now in Vietnam and Laos. To grow one is to take part, in a small way, in keeping a living fossil alive.
For all the rarity, the swamp cypress is a fine and adaptable garden tree wherever the ground stays wet. Plant the tree at a pond edge, along a stream, in a boggy low spot, or anywhere baldcypress would thrive, in full sun and moist to saturated soil, and expect a narrow, conical tree of soft green in summer and bronze in fall. Standing water is no obstacle, and ordinary moist garden soil suits the tree as well, so long as the ground never dries out badly.
Rarely offered in the United States, Glyptostrobus pensilis is a collector's conifer and a conservation plant in one, a conversation piece with a genuine story behind it. Give room for a medium to large tree in time, a wet or moist site, and full sun, and the reward is a graceful, feathery specimen almost no one else can grow. For the gardener with a damp corner and a taste for the rare, few trees carry so much meaning.
Additional photos courtesy of CJ Earle and Glyn Church
- Hardiness
- USDA Zones 7–9
- Sun
- Full Sun
- Soil
- Moist
- Mature size
- Height 30–50 Feet · Spread 15–18 Feet
- Growth rate
- Medium
- Seasonality
- Deciduous
From rooting to shipping, our top priority is ensuring you receive healthy, thriving plants for your garden’s success.
Because most of our plants are grown from rooted cuttings — alongside seed, air layering, and grafting chosen for each variety — you receive a stronger, true-to-type plant that establishes quickly in your garden.
Raised on organic soil blends and eco-friendly pest management — never harsh chemicals — your plant arrives healthy for your garden, your family, and the pollinators they feed.
Every purchase gives back. We donate to the Aiken Arboretum and support local wildlife conservation, so growing your garden helps protect the wider ecosystem too.
All our plant material is carefully propagated, grown, and nurtured at our humble nursery in Aiken, South Carolina.
Your plant arrives carefully packed and ready to settle in. Unpack them promptly, give them a day or two to acclimate, then plant following the notes we include — that’s all it takes. Clear care guidance comes with every order, so success is the easy part.
What to expect upon delivery
All our plants are sold in 1-gallon sizes, though the height of each plant can vary depending on its growth rate and seasonality, typically ranging from 1/2 to 2.5 feet.
Each plant is carefully packaged with its roots enclosed in a secure plastic bag containing moist soil, forming a compact root ball. To ensure safe transport, the box is padded with recycled newspaper, providing both stability and eco-friendly protection from weather during shipping.
What is your return policy?
Review our full return policy information on our SHIPPING AND RETURNS POLICY page.
What payment methods can I use?
We offer 35 different payment methods including major providers like Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, American Express and Diners as well as many different local payment methods including Klarna, iDEAL, AliPay, Sofort, giropay, and many more.
Can I make changes to my order after it’s been placed?
At Woodlanders, we strive to fulfill orders as quickly as possible. Therefore, we can only accommodate changes to your order within the first 24 hours after it has been placed. These changes include adding or removing products and modifying the delivery address. If you need to make any changes or if there has been a mistake with your order information, please reach out to us promptly via our CONTACT page with your order number for the quickest resolution.
Your satisfaction is our priority, and we appreciate your understanding and cooperation.