Árbol del Tule

Árbol del Tule (Tree of Tule) is a Montezuma cypress (Taxodium mucronatum) in Santa Maria del Tule, in the Mexican state of Oaxaca. Around 35m high, it’s the world’s widest tree with a recorded diameter of 14.05m. Its immense width is exacerbated by buttress roots but still measures a record 9.38m in diameter without them.

Once thought to be several trees, DNA testing has since proved Árbol del Tule a single specimen. It’s an estimated 1,400-1,600 years old, matching the indigenous Zapotec’s belief that it was planted then by the Aztec wind god Ehecati.

On the second Monday in October locals celebrate Día del Árbol del Tule (Tule Tree Day). In 2024 the state government used the date to announce protection measures including soil analysis, pruning damaged branches and increasing access to light.

Known locally as āhuēhuētl, ‘Montezuma’ is one of only three Taxodium (yew) in the Cupressaceae (cypress) family. Native to Mexico, Guatemala and parts of southwestern US, it’s evergreen or semi-evergreen but can be deciduous further north. Their closest relative is the critically endangered Chinese swamp cypress.

Montezuma cypress thrives between land and river (riparian zone) but is drought-tolerant. It can reach up to 40m high, 3m wide and has needle-like leaves and ovoid cones.

Unlike its two Taxodium relatives (bald and pond cypress) ‘Montezuma’ seldom produces cypress knees, the knobbly protuberances around the base.

Árbol del Tule cover photo by resistaaventurero.com.mx

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