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Taxodium mucronatum (Montezuma bald cypress)
Flaigg, Norman G.

Taxodium mucronatum Ten.

Montezuma bald cypress, Montezuma cypress, Mexican cypress, Ahuehuete, Sabino

Cupressaceae (Cypress Family)

USDA Symbol: TAMU

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Large, needle-leaf, aquatic tree with tall, straight trunk and broad crown of spreading branches and drooping twigs, evergreen or nearly so. Trunk enlarged at base with ridges above; sometimes small knees project from submerged roots.

The national tree of Mexico, Montezuma Baldcypress is closely related to the Baldcypress of the southeastern United States, T. distichum (which also occurs in Mexico), but is usually evergreen and is not hardy in cold climates. The Big Tree of Tule, near Oaxaca, Mexico, is a famous giant. Apparently formed by the fusion of 3 trees, it has a trunk circumference of 112 ft (34 m) and a height of 141 ft (43 m). The majestic veterans in Chapultepec Park, Mexico City, are taller, reaching 165 (50 m), and are among the oldest cultivated trees in the New World, perhaps exceeding 600 years.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Size Notes: 36-72 ft.
Flower:
Fruit:
Size Class: 36-72 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Time: Feb , Mar

Distribution

USA: TX
Native Distribution: Extreme S. Texas in Cameron and Hidalgo counties, near sea level; also Mexico.
Native Habitat: Swamps, Stream, river banks
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: High
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Wet
Soil Description: Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay
Conditions Comments: Faster growing than Bald Cypress in good conditions and semi-deciduous in winter. Could suffer winter damage in Central Texas northward. A cone bearing plant, Montezuma Cypress cones open in February and seeds ripen in October after flowering in March or April. Seeds are released upon cone ripening, and germinate as soon as moisture conditions permit. There is a weeping form.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Fall conspicuous, Attractive, Long-living
Use Wildlife: Nesting site, Cover, Substrate-insectivorous birds, Seeds-Small mammals
Interesting Foliage: yes

From the National Suppliers Directory

According to the inventory provided by Associate Suppliers, this plant is available at the following locations:

Hill Country Natives - Leander, TX

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Native Plant Society of Texas - Fredericksburg, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
NPSOT - Austin Chapter - Austin, TX

Bibliography

Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

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Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Taxodium mucronatum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Taxodium mucronatum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Taxodium mucronatum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2011-01-27
Research By: TWC Staff

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