Cupressus lusitanica, commonly known as Mexican White Cedar or Mexican Cedar, is an evergreen coniferous tree native to the highlands of Central America and Mexico, particularly in areas with a cool, moist climate such as cloud forests and mixed pine-oak woodlands. It can reach up to 130 feet in height and 60-70 feet in width, with a conical to columnar form that becomes more open and spreading with age. The tree is characterized by its dense, dark green foliage and small, spherical cones. It produces small, inconspicuous flowers, with the male cones releasing pollen and the female cones developing into woody seed cones.

Mexican Cedar is valued for its fast growth and ornamental qualities, including its attractive bark and dense foliage. It is used for windbreaks, privacy screens, and as a specimen tree in large landscapes. The wood is aromatic and has been used for timber, furniture, and in traditional medicine. In cultivation, it prefers full sun to partial shade, moist but well-drained soils, and it tolerates a range of soil types, including clay. It is relatively low-maintenance but can be susceptible to cypress canker, a fungal disease that causes branch dieback. Gardeners should be aware of its potential invasiveness when grown outside its native range, as it can displace native vegetation and alter ecosystems.CC BY-SA 4.0