The bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is a legendary conifer that grows in the swamps of the American Southeast. It has been the state tree of Louisiana since 1963.

It is called “bald”, because unlike most conifers, its needles fall in the autumn. In native mythology, this yearly cycle of losing and regaining its foliage has made it a symbol of death, rebirth, and transition.

The oldest known living bald cypress—located along the Black River in North Carolina— is known to be over 2,625 years old. Because of this longevity, it has long been seen as a symbol of immortality, endurance, and the triumph of life over harsh elements.

In Indigenous American folklore; the tree's ability to survive hurricanes and swamp floodings also symbolizes flexibility and fortitude in the face of adversity. Its resilience and longevity is often linked to myths of immortality and the afterlife.

Many tribes in the southeastern United States considered cypress groves to be sacred spaces. The trees’ towering heights and fluted, moss-draped trunks were seen as portals or bridges connecting the earthly realm with the spirit world.