The Rich Heritage of Cypress Wood and Lumber

Why Our Cypress Stands Out

Our Cypress has the richest color and tightest grain of any Cypress available on today’s commercial market. Read on to discover why!

The Science Behind Our Cypress

Taxodium distichum, commonly known as Baldcypress, is the type of Cypress commercially harvested along the Gulf Coast. This tree thrives in damp, marshy, tidal areas and can be found as far north as the mid-continent states, where it grows along streams and in lowland regions. In the late 1800s, the demand for lumber for homes, businesses, and industrial uses led major lumber producers to discover Cypress. The largest and most notable Cypress sawmill was Frank B. Williams Lumber in Patterson, Louisiana, located about two hours south of our operation today.

Once, vast Cypress forests dominated the low-lying areas of Louisiana, with stands of trees yielding thousands of board feet per acre. It was said that the trees were as thick as “hair on a dog’s back.” Average tree sizes ranged from three to four feet in diameter, with some ancient Cypress trees, up to 700 years old, reaching five to six feet across.

The Unique Color of Louisiana Cypress

Cypress trees growing in swamps typically exhibit a richer, redder color than those found on upland sites. This is where the name “Tidewater Red” originated for Cypress with reddish heartwood. Conversely, Cypress from less moist areas was referred to as “Yellow Cypress.” The same species is known in South Carolina as “Lowland Cypress,” but we refer to ours as “Deep Swamp,” reflecting its natural growing conditions. This variety of names can lead to confusion in the marketplace, but it’s important to note that all commercial Cypress is Baldcypress; they are the same species. A minor species, called Pond Cypress, consists of scrub trees found mostly in Florida, which hold no commercial value.

The Rich Color of Louisiana Cypress

Recent advancements in technology have revealed that the vibrant color of Louisiana Cypress is due to the region’s ground water, which has a higher-than-average salt content. As ground water is absorbed by the Cypress trees through transpiration, it travels through microscopic channels in the wood. Over time, the salt reacts with natural organic chemicals in the heartwood, producing a rich color with reddish streaks. The salt content is a remnant of when the area was under the sea 30,000 years ago, giving our Cypress a distinctive appearance compared to that grown in northern Louisiana or other states like Texas and Tennessee.

The Close Grain of Louisiana Cypress

The damp ground conditions in South Louisiana slow the growth rate of Cypress, as trees in wet areas often struggle to access enough oxygen. Cypress knees, which protrude above the water line, are essential for oxygen intake, preventing stagnation in growth. This slow growth results in high-quality wood characterized by tighter growth rings and denser structure. A tree that grows slowly accumulates more growth rings per inch, which is a key indicator of quality. The renowned Louisiana architect A. Haas Town emphasized the importance of Cypress with at least 25 growth rings per inch, a mark of old-growth virgin Cypress. However, old-growth Cypress is now rare and often reclaimed, making it quite expensive due to the high demand for antique Cypress millwork in fine homes across the Gulf Coast.

Ultimately, the Cypress from our mill features tighter growth rings and richer color than most others on the market, primarily sourced from Louisiana’s lowland areas. Although our Cypress may not always have 25 rings per inch, it typically has around 15 rings per inch, which still signifies quality. Coupled with our meticulous milling processes, our Cypress products are investments that enhance both the beauty and value of your home.

The Early Days of Harvesting Cypress

Harvesting Cypress from swamps has always been a challenging endeavor due to the damp ground. Furthermore, Cypress is denser than water, causing freshly cut logs to sink instead of float. In the past, loggers developed a technique called “girdling,” where they would cut a notch around the tree during the fall when the ground was dry enough to walk on. Girdling involved cutting deeply enough to sever the tracheids (long tubes that transport water), effectively denying the tree access to water. Although this killed the tree, it would take one to two years for the remaining moisture to evaporate, allowing the log to float after being cut.

Rafting Cypress Logs to the Mills

Once the loggers determined that the trees were dry enough to float, they would cut them down and trim them. With the arrival of spring rains and river overflow, they would create log rafts secured together with chains and float them into navigable bayous en route to one of the Cypress mills.

Sinker Cypress

Logs that failed to float were left in the forest, along with any exhibiting signs of “pecky” ends or visible defects, such as lightning strikes. In those times, Pecky Cypress lumber was considered undesirable and often discarded or burned due to the lack of market interest. Occasionally, logs broke loose from the rafts and were lost; today, these are highly prized as Sinker Cypress. The sapwood has rotted away, leaving only beautiful heartwood characterized by a stunning array of colors. However, sinker logs often contain defects; when cut, many boards may fall apart due to shake—a separation caused by the trees swaying in hurricane winds over generations. As a result, the low recovery rate of usable wood from sinker logs drives up the cost of this premium Cypress.

The Color of Sinker Cypress

The natural appearance of Sinker Cypress is akin to the original wood, showcasing red and gold hues that vary from tree to tree and even within the same tree. Sinker logs buried or mired in mud exhibit even more interesting variations, ranging from greenish to blackish tones. These darker colors arise from the activity of anaerobic bacteria, which thrive in oxygen-deprived areas of the log. Logs that are predominantly green and black are often referred to as Black Cypress. Typically, Sinker Cypress showcases a rich blend of red, gold, green, and black, making it one of the most coveted woods available. For more information, see our Cypress Products section.

Pecky Cypress

Pecky Cypress is distinguished by small tunnels, roughly the size of a finger, running with the grain of the wood. These tunnels are caused by a fungus of the genus Stereum that attacks the heartwood of living Cypress trees. Specific to Cypress, the fungus dies upon harvesting and sawing, leaving behind the distinctive tunnels. For additional details, see our Cypress Products section.

Cypress in the 21st Century

Today, Cypress continues to thrive across the Gulf Coast and in hardwood bottomlands, valued for its beauty and longevity. While none of the second-growth Cypress can be classified as “eternal wood” like its virgin predecessors, Cypress heartwood remains one of the most durable woods available on the commercial market. The majority of our Cypress comes from trees aged between 100 to 150 years. With its rich heart content, vibrant color, and tight grain resulting from slow growth in wet conditions, the Cypress sourced from the swamps of South Louisiana represents the finest quality available anywhere.