Cypress trees in autumn, Georgia, USA

Autumn in Georgia. Bald cypress trees in Georgia, USA

Autumn is here bringing with it brilliant shades of gold, orange and crimson to these bald cypress trees in the southern US state of Georgia. Most varieties of cypress are evergreen, but bald cypresses are deciduous so their lacy needles turn a vibrant copper in autumn, fall off in winter, then the trees grow a new set of needles in the spring.

Bald cypresses are native to the south-east US and flourish in the Mississippi River basin along the Gulf Coast. They’re a familiar sight in the bayous (slow-moving creeks) of Louisiana and also grow in the coastal plains of Georgia, like this regal grove.

Bald cypresses thrive in wet conditions like riverbanks and swamps. And they don’t just look good. Often reaching well over 100ft (30m) tall, these slow growers provide important habitat for amphibians, fish and birds, as well as protecting coastlines from erosion and flooding.