It’s official! The Mexican ash tree, known as Santa Catarina and located in Coyoacán, has been declared a Natural Heritage Site of Mexico City.
The goal is to highlight the environmental, historical, and cultural value of this unique specimen of the species Fraxinus uhdei (Wenz) Lingelsh.
Located at 202-A Francisco Sosa Avenue, in the iconic Santa Catarina neighborhood of the Coyoacán district, this majestic tree stands as a true living witness to the urban and community transformation of the area.
The tree stands on a Tepanec settlement
This green giant has pre-Hispanic origins! It stands on the site of the ancient Tepanec settlement known as Omac. During the viceregal era, the area was part of the economic sphere of Cortés’s Palace; it is worth noting that ash trees marked the boundaries of the land and provided shade for the colonial roads. Its continued presence in the current landscape establishes this specimen as a living witness to the history of this iconic neighborhood.
With an impressive total height of 24.60 meters and a trunk diameter of 182.50 centimeters, the Santa Catarina ash tree has been formally classified as a “Notable Tree” thanks to its exceptional size, estimated age, and the invaluable ecosystem services it provides to those living in the area.
As of June 4, 2026 (the date the declaration takes effect), the tree is strictly subject to a special protection regime administered by the Secretariat of the Environment (SEDEMA), which prohibits any type of pruning, felling, transplanting, or construction work that could compromise the health of its roots, trunk, or foliage.
If you’re in the Santa Catarina neighborhood, don’t hesitate to take a walk along Francisco Sosa Avenue to admire this historic ash tree, which is now a Natural Heritage Site of Mexico City.
