| An impressive 45 pine species are described in the second edition of my book Trees of Seattle. An extremely rare one is our subject this month --because it much deserves wider recognition and planting. English tree expert Alan Mitchell (1922 - 1995) wrote "A well grown specimen of this Mexican tree is the most spectacular of any pine, if not of any conifer." |
| Pinus Montezumæ, from México and south Guatemala, was named in 1832 after Montezuma II (1466 - 1520), the last Aztec Emperor, penultimate ruler, brought to ruin by Cortés. Seeds were introduced to England by Karl Theodor Hartweg in 1839; the species has been cultivated in the U.S. since 1863 if not earlier, in California mostly. |
| Compared to most pines, Montezuma is a stout, bold, exuberant species, with long branches of luxurious foliage. It has been confused with, but can be more cold-hardy than, Pinus patula (Jelecote Pine), though is so variable that only certain specimens (such as those in Seattle) endure much freezing. |
| Its needles number (3,4) 5 (6,7,8) per cluster, 6 to 12 (18) inches long, varying in droopiness and thickness as well as length; very finely serrated; yielding a slight onion scent. Though a 5-needle pine, it does not in the least look like the familar white pines. Cones measure (2.5) 4.5 to 6 (14) inches long. The bark is as deep and chunky (Rough-barked Mexican Pine) as that of any pine species. |
| In the wild, the tree has measured as tall as 157 feet, with trunks up to 15.75 feet circumference. An alleged specimen in Woodstock Garden, Inistioge, Kilkenny, Ireland, meaured 98.5 feet tall with a trunk circumference 9.5 feet in 2000. But based on photos, I think it another species really --or at any rate not the same "version" as Seattle has. |
| Seattle's Washington Park Arboretum, was sent seeds in April 1965, collected in Hidalgo, México, between Zimpan and Jacala. One of the seedlings raised, and given the name Pinus patula, was planted in April 1969. It thrived, and is shown in my photographs. In January 1985, I pointed out that it was not Pinus patula, but really Pinus Montezumæ, so its label was changed. In the year 2000, it was designated a Seattle Heritage Tree. |
| A sibling seedling of this tree, grows at the University of Washington campus, at the International Friendship Grove on Campus Parkway. It, unlike the arboretum specimen, has produced cones, shown in my photograph. For years, I conjectured that the arboretum tree did not get enough heat units to reproduce. But Seattle has had hotter summers of late, and the UW specimen is in a hotter location. |
| A third Seattle Pinus Montezumæ specimen, smaller and younger, grows at the Locks, in bed #211. In my Trees of Seattle book, I misidentified it as Pinus patula. |
| So, we see here a pattern, of confusing the identity of Mexican pine species. I have no doubt that the trees photographed below are real Pinus Montezumæ. Compared to them, true Pinus patula has shorter, thinner, shinier, strongly weeping needles, 3 to 4 (5) per cluster. It is also more cold-tender. |
| Pinus Montezumæ deserves more planting --as long as it is supplied enough room. Being related closely to the widespread, well-known Ponderosa Pine, it is also tolerant of dry summers, despite its luxurious appearance. Yet since it varies in appearance and hardiness, people interested in growing it would be wise to collect seeds from cones made in Seattle. |
The Seattle arboretum tree has grown rapidly; below are its measurements: (Due to rot at its base it will be felled in spring of 2024.)
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| 100 feet tall X 10 feet 0 inches trunk circumference (2023) |
| 93 feet tall X 9 feet 10 inches trunk circumference (2021) |
| 84.5 feet tall X 8 feet 8 inches trunk circumference (2011) |
| 73 feet tall X 7 feet 3 inches trunk circumference (2005) |
| 49 feet tall X 4 feet 6 inches trunk circumference (1993) |
44 feet tall X 3 feet 6 inches trunk circumference (1988)
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The UW tree measures now 75.75 feet tall X 9 feet 0 inches trunk circumference. The photos below also date from various years as indicated.
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arboretum Montezuma Pine in 2021 ; photo by ALJ
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arboretum Montezuma Pine in 2011 ; photo by ALJ
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UW Montezuma Pine in 2021 ; photo by ALJ
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UW Montezuma Pine in 2015 ; photo by ALJ
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bark of arboretum Montezuma Pine in 2021 ; photo by ALJ
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bark of UW Montezuma Pine in 2021 ; photo by ALJ
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cones of Montezuma Pine in 2021 ; photo by ALJ
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