Montezuma Bald Cypress
Taxodium distichum var. mexicanum
- Native to:
- Guatemala, Mexico, United States
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Coniferophyta | - Conifers
- Family:
- Cupressaceae
- Genus:
- Taxodium
- Species:
- Taxodium distichum var. mexicanum
- USDA Symbol:
- TAMU
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 3000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Anacamptodes pergracilis, Cecropia moth (Hyalophora cecropia), Chloropteryx tepperaria, Coleotechnites apicitripunctella, Coleotechnites variella, Cutina albopunctella, Dasychira grisefacta, Dioryctria pygmaeella, Dominick's tussock moth (Dasychira dominickaria), fir tussock moth (Orgyia detrita), Gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar), Imperial Moth (Eacles imperialis), Isoparce cupressi, Northern Pine Tussock Moth (Dasychira plagiata), Perimede erransella, south coastal coneworm moth (Dioryctria ebeli), Southern pine coneworm moth (Dioryctria amatella)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, small mammals
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
- Fall Color:
- orange, brown
- Fire Ecology:
- Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
- Fire Notes:
- Mature trees have thick, fibrous bark providing fire resistance. Can resprout from base after moderate fire damage.
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, moisture-retentive clay or loam
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- tolerates poor drainage
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found in swampy areas and riverbanks
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require moist conditions and cold stratification. Light may improve germination rates.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI