Taxodium ascendens 'Morris' is a vigorous, upright, tree form of pond cypress with a nice broad crown, symmetrical branching, and thread-like leaves consisting of short scales that display a beautiful coppery-bronze autumn color. After 10 years of growth, a mature specimen will measure 12 feet (4 m) tall and half as wide, an annual growth rate of around 12 inches (30 cm).
This cultivar originated as a seedling selected in the mid 1960s by Earl Cully of Jacksonville, Illinois, from cuttings taken from a tree found growing in the Morris Arboretum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and introduced to the nursery trade in 2003 by Heritage Trees, Inc. (also of Jacksonville, IL). It was selected for outstanding form, cold-hardiness and resistance to breaking under load of snow or ice. In 2005, this conifer was awarded U.S. Plant Patent #US20050108799P1.
In 2003, Mr. Cully and Heritage Trees, inc. also registered this conifer under the commercial trade name Debonair„¢ with registration number: 2763919.
