Human Use
Because of the unique shape of the base of each trunk, artists have created clocks, furniture, and wall décor from the cross-sections of this tree. In the landscaping industry, bald cypress is planted for its ornamental beauty. Old-growth heartwood is desired in the timber industry. It is especially used in the construction of docks, bridges, silos, tanks, caskets, and general millwork, because of its durability and resistance to rot.
However, lumber use of bald cypress has declined, because it is a slow-growing tree. It is harvested from wetlands, and the population of mature trees is much smaller than in the past. The resin extracted from the cones is used locally as an analgesic for lesions of the skin.