What are the oldest and most emblematic trees in Mexico City

In Mexico City you can find some elements that have witnessed the passing of the years. There are buildings, streets, avenues and even trees, which have existed for many years, even centuries.

Some of these buildings are, for example, the Metropolitan Cathedral, which began construction in 1573, and was completed in 1813. Another of the most majestic and oldest buildings in the Mexican capital is the National Palace, which was built in 1522, immediately after the completion of the Conquest of Mexico, and which served as the home of Hernán Cortes.

But also, as already mentioned, there are some natural elements that are representative of Mexico City, such as the Glorieta de la Palma, located on the important Paseo de la Reforma avenue, one of the most prominent in the capital and the country.

The history of the Glorieta de la Palma is extensive. The original layout of the Paseo de la Reforma ran from the entrance of Bosque de Chapultepec to Bucareli Avenue, and was built on the orders of Emperor Maximilian of Habsburg, in the second half of the nineteenth century. Initially, the prominent avenue was named Paseo de la Empresas, in honor of his wife Charlotte of Belgium.

Later, already in the Porfiriato, when the authorities and many of its inhabitants wanted to have a city with places in the very European style, trees were planted along the avenue, sidewalks and ridges were embellished, lighting was placed and several roundabouts were built in which there were different monuments.

First, the roundabout was built in which the statue of the former king of Spain Carlos VI was placed, which became better known as “El Caballito”, right at what is now the crossroads between Reforma, Bucareli and Avenida Juárez. Today, this monument is located on the esplanade of the National Museum of Art.

Meters ahead, at what is now the junction of Reforma and Nisa, another roundabout was built which, according to some versions, would be dedicated to a monument in honor of Miguel Hidalgo that, together with the Independence Monument, known as El Ángel, would commemorate the first centenary of Independence in 1910.

However, when everything was ready, they planted a palm tree there so that the gazebo would not look so lonely. Another version points out that from the beginning, it was thought of only putting a palm tree there. From that time to date, the famous palm tree remains, which has become an indispensable part of the capital's landscape.

Another of the most emblematic and important trees in the country's capital is the one located on the Mexico-Tacuba road, between the Popotla and Cuitláhuac metro. This is an ahuehuete who, it is said, witnessed the defeat of the Spanish troops at the hands of the Mexicas.

It is said that, when they fled Tenochtitlan, precisely along that avenue, they stopped and, precisely in that tree, Cortes wept at the defeat and loss of several of his men in battle.

It was previously known as the Tree of the Sad Night, however, in 2021, the government of Mexico City, led by Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo, decided to change the name to the Tree of the Victorious Night. The tree is more than 500 years old.

The third of the most representative and ancient trees in the capital, is the one known as “El Sargento”; located in the Chapultepec Forest. This is also an ahuehuete, just like that of the Victorious Night, and it is said that it was planted by Nezahualcoyotl, and that it lived for about 500 years.

It is said that “the poet king”, perhaps invited by Moctezuma Ilhuicamina, planted the tree around 1460, as part of a species of afforestation that took place in this place. Later, in 1841, the Military College was established in Chapultepec Castle, and the cadets were the ones who nicknamed it, being very long-lived, as “The Sergeant” or “The Sentinel”.

This tree, like the one on the Victorious Night, is dry. It is said that “El Sergeant” reached 40 meters high, but in 1969 it dried up due to pollution and lack of water.

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