# summer-cypress (*Bassia scoparia*) Summer cypress is a fun plant that looks like a fluffy green cloud! It grows tall and can change colors, making it a pretty sight in gardens and fields during summer. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Kochia ![summer-cypress](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Bassia_scoparia_sl16.jpg&width=800) Photo: Stefan.lefnaer, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bassia_scoparia_sl16.jpg) ## Appearance The summer-cypress is a densely branched, oval-shaped annual plant, often growing 1-2 meters tall. Its small, soft, narrow leaves are typically bright green, turning vibrant shades of red, purple, or yellow in autumn, making it resemble a miniature conifer. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Caryophyllales - **Family:** Amaranthaceae - **Genus:** Bassia ## Interesting facts - It's sometimes called "burning bush" because of its fiery red fall color! - Its bushy shape makes it look like a mini evergreen tree, but it's an annual! - This plant is used in Japan to create beautiful, living green sculptures! - Tiny summer-cypress seeds can stay alive in the soil for many years! ## Special abilities - **Heat Shield:** Summer-cypress can thrive in dry conditions thanks to its efficient water use, helping it survive hot, arid places. - **Autumn Glow:** Summer-cypress has leaves that change from green to brilliant red or purple, helping it signal maturity and prepare for seed dispersal. - **Speedy Sprout:** Summer-cypress can grow quickly from seed, allowing it to outcompete other plants for sunlight and resources. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 50-200 cm - **Spread:** 30-100 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late summer to early fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Annual - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Cattle](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cattle) (*Bos taurus*) — often grazed by cattle in pastures - **Eaten by:** [White-tailed deer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-tailed-deer) (*Odocoileus virginianus*) — browsed by deer, especially when young - **Parasitizes:** Powdery mildew (*Erysiphe cichoracearum*) — causes powdery mildew disease ## Traits - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Shrub](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shrub): A shrub is a woody plant smaller than a tree, typically with multiple stems branching from or near the ground. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water. - [Drought Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/drought-tolerant): Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability. - [Fall Color](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fall-color): Fall color refers to the seasonal change in foliage pigmentation, primarily in deciduous plants, displaying vibrant hues. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't touch plants unless a grown-up says it's okay. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify summer-cypress? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is summer-cypress? 50-200 cm ### How wide does summer-cypress spread? 30-100 cm ### When does summer-cypress bloom? Late summer to early fall ### Is summer-cypress edible? No ### Is summer-cypress toxic? None ### What is summer-cypress's lifecycle? Annual ### How is summer-cypress pollinated? Wind ## Where to spot - [Clayton Public Schools Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clayton-public-schools-historic-district) — New Mexico, US · Historic District - [Hitachi Seaside Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/hitachi-seaside-park) — Kanto, JP · Park - [Sanuki Manno National Government Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sanuki-manno-national-government-park) — Shikoku, JP · Park - [Gongendo Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gongendo-park) — Saitama, JP · Park - [Kuju Flower Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/kuju-flower-park) — Kyushu, JP · Park - [Michinoku Forest Lakeside National Government Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/michinoku-forest-lakeside-national-government-park) — Tohoku, JP · Park [View all places to see summer-cypress](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/summer-cypress) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Summer-cypress: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/summer-cypress)