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Montezuma Cypress

Taxodium mucronatum

Last reviewed: July 2026

Montezuma Cypress (Taxodium mucronatum)
Photo: (c) José Belem Hernández Díaz, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by José Belem Hernández Díaz

Light

full sun

Water

medium

Size

240"–360" H × 36"–108" W

Bloom

Mar, Apr, May

Native to

TX

Before you buy

Your city may pay you to plant this

Cities and water utilities offer rebates for replacing lawn with native and water-wise plants. We track 411 programs across 44 states, each with a link to the provider and the date we last checked it.

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Browse plants for this ecoregion

Montezuma Cypress is a fast-growing, large evergreen tree with feathery foliage and distinctive buttressed trunk. This majestic native can reach 20-30 feet tall in residential settings and provides excellent shade and year-round screening. It thrives in both wet and dry conditions once established.

In an HOA neighborhood

Montezuma Cypress takes more care to keep looking intentional in a front yard. Maintenance level: low. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Works well in: backyard only.

  • Tree size exceeds typical HOA-friendly range

Wildlife value

The tree provides nesting sites for birds and shelter for various wildlife. Its seeds feed waterfowl and small mammals, while the dense canopy offers roosting habitat.

Common questions

How much sun does Montezuma Cypress need?
Montezuma Cypress grows best in full sun conditions.
When does Montezuma Cypress bloom?
Montezuma Cypress blooms in March, April, and May.
Where is Montezuma Cypress native?
Montezuma Cypress (Taxodium mucronatum) is native to TX, per the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists.
Is Montezuma Cypress HOA-friendly?
Montezuma Cypress takes more care to look intentional in a front yard. Consider it for backyard or mid-zone beds rather than the street edge.

Native range data from the USDA PLANTS Database and regional native plant society lists. Pollinator and host plant associations compiled from GBIF, iNaturalist, and published ecological literature.

Ready to grow Montezuma Cypress? Add it to your garden in Pollinator Patch to track it and get season-by-season care guidance.

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