Hello from Newark, Ohio
Welcome to The Dawes Arboretum’s Cypress Swamp. Cypress trees are usually found along southern coastlines where they have easy access to swampy, wet soil and full sunlight.
Creating the Cypress Swamp
Following a trip to the Big Cypress Swamp in the Everglades, The Arboretum’s founder, Beman Dawes, was interested to see if cypress trees could survive as far north as Ohio.
Creating the Cypress Swamp
In 1928, Beman Dawes purchased 500 cypress trees and planted them in a boggy spot on the grounds over the course of two years and The Dawes Arboretum’s Cypress Swamp was born. Almost 100 years later, Cypress Swamp is one of The Arboretum’s most visited areas.
Cypress Swamp Knees with Visitor by The Dawes ArboretumThe Dawes Arboretum
Tree Knees
Known as being the only trees with knees, Cypress can grow as much as 4 feet in a year and can live for hundreds of years.
Cypress Swamp Walk by The Dawes ArboretumThe Dawes Arboretum
Cypress Knees
It is theorized that the “knees” of the tree help to aerate the tree's roots, create a barrier to catch sediment and reduce erosion and/or assist in anchoring the tree in the soft and muddy soil.
Salamander in the Cypress Swamp by The Dawes ArboretumThe Dawes Arboretum
Creatures in the Cypress Swamp
Dawes Arboretum’s Cypress Swamp is home to many species including several varieties of salamanders and frogs, crayfish, fairy shrimp and larval insects. Wildlife like raccoons, opossum and deer also use the swamp as a water source.
Cypress Swamp Leaves by The Dawes ArboretumThe Dawes Arboretum
Around the Cypress Swamp
Along with the thriving abundance of cypress trees, native blue flag iris, invasive yellow iris and ferns grow in Cypress Swamp.
Learn More
Explore sights and sounds of the Cypress Swamp at The Dawes Arboretum.
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