MONTEZUMA CYPRESS
Native: Mexico & Texas
Family: cupressaceae
The Montezuma cypress, also known as the Montezuma bald cypress, has a rich history deeply intertwined with Mexican and Texan cultures, with some specimens estimated to be over 2,000 years old
RARE SPECIMEN TREE: Strangely, though, and despite its wide-spread planting in Mexico, it is not seen very often here in Georgia. This tree in Senoia is very rare and of one of a few to be seen.
Santa Maria del Tule: Located in Oaxaca, Mexico, this ancient Montezuma cypress is believed to be one of the oldest living trees, with estimates ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 years old. It's known for its massive trunk and is a popular tourist attraction.
Needles are soft and feathery like the Bald cypress but has a more weeping profile that is easily recognize from the street view. This tree in Senoia is right next to a Bald cypress for comparison.
Santa Maria del Tule, this tree in the small town of Oaxaca, Mexica
A Gift from the Aztecs
The Montezuma cypress cones don’t actually look like cones but is round in structure and about larger then a bald cypress cone in diameter. When cones appear in autumn, they are tough and green, but they become woody as the season progresses.
Bright green during the growing season, transforms into a vibrant rusty orange, brown, or copper color in the Fall.