Hills with High and Medium-high Tropical Evergreen Forest (Lomer°os con selvas alta y mediana perennifolias) is a region spanning several states, characterized by a mostly warm to semi-warm climate with high precipitation, containing significant forest areas and dedicated primarily to agricultural-livestock activities.
Zone
Forest
Common Name
Hills with Medium and High Evergreen Tropical Forest
CEC Level III Code
15.1.2
CEC Level II Code
15.1 Tropical Wet Forests
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | Hills with Medium and High Evergreen Tropical Forest, evergreen tropical hill forest, tropical wet evergreen hill forest |
| Geographic Range | This region covers parts of San Luis Potosí, Veracruz, Hidalgo, Puebla, Oaxaca, Tabasco, and Chiapas, encompassing seven physiographic regions and is divided into eleven subregions including the Huastec Karst, Chiconquiaco, Plains, Sierras, and the Chiapas Highlands. |
| Climate Snapshot | The region has a mostly warm climate (averaging above 22°C, with some semi-warm areas at 18°C), with summer rains and annual precipitation exceeding 2,000 mm in some areas. |
| Terrain Profile | The elevation ranges from 100 to 2,200 masl, with relief varying among beaches, plains, hills, valleys, canyons, plateaus, and sierras. |
| Vegetation Cover | The region is characterized by over 3 million hectares of remaining virgin vegetation, including over 1.2 million hectares of virgin high tropical evergreen forests with species like jutahy, white olive, and big-leaf mahogany, along with smaller areas of mountain cloud, pine, oak, and mixed pine-oak forests, as well as halophytic and savannah grasslands. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The region is home to characteristic wet forest animals, including the spider monkey, Guatemalan black howler monkey, jaguar, Baird's tapir, keel-billed toucan, various parrots, amphibians, reptiles, and Morpho butterflies. |
Eco snapshot
The region is characterized by over 3 million hectares of remaining virgin vegetation, including over 1.2 million hectares of virgin high tropical evergreen forests with species like jutahy, white olive, and big-leaf mahogany, along with smaller areas of mountain cloud, pine, oak, and mixed pine-oak forests, as well as halophytic and savannah grasslands.
The region is home to characteristic wet forest animals, including the spider monkey, Guatemalan black howler monkey, jaguar, Baird’s tapir, keel-billed toucan, various parrots, amphibians, reptiles, and Morpho butterflies.
Seasonal timing
Yearly needs
What pollinators need throughout the year, and what to do about it.
| Season | What pollinators need most | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| Late winter/early spring | Early nectar/pollen; safe shelter as insects become active | Add a few early-blooming native plants in the sun; avoid cleanup that removes nesting/shelter; keep water available in a shallow dish with stones |
| Spring | Steady blooms; nesting materials and sites | Plant a mix of flower shapes; leave some bare, well-drained soil; keep some hollow stems/woody bits for cavities |
| Summer | Reliable nectar in heat/humidity; shade and water | Maintain continuous flowering; water new plantings; include some flowering shrubs/edges; provide a shallow water source |
| Late summer/fall | “Bridge” blooms when some plants stop flowering; safe places for next generation | Add late-blooming natives; reduce mowing; leave seedheads and stems; avoid pesticide use during peak insect activity |
| Winter or Dry Season | Shelter from heavy rain or drought; undisturbed nesting sites | Leave leaf litter and plant stems; keep some areas uncut; plan next season’s plantings and add mulch to protect soil |
Seed mix concept
Spring starter: early-blooming species to kick off the season when insects first need food
Summer bridge: reliable mid-season bloomers that keep nectar/pollen steady through peak growth
Fall finisher: late bloomers that prevent end-of-season gaps and help pollinators build reserves
What You Can Do
Turn this knowledge into action. Whether you plant a single pot or a whole garden, you are building a vital bridge for local biodiversity.
Join the movement to restore our shared habitats.
Native plants
Agaves are bold, sculptural succulents that store water in thick leaves and thrive in bright, dry spots. Their flowers can be a big seasonal draw for pollinators when plants are mature and in bloom.
Erythrinas (coral trees) are showy flowering trees in the genus Erythrina, known for bold, nectar-rich blooms that can be a seasonal food stop for pollinators in warm gardens.
Inga is a group of tropical trees (genus Inga) known for fluffy, brush-like flowers and long pods. In warm climates, it can be a shade tree that also offers nectar and pollen for a variety of insects.
Milkweeds from tropical Mexico (genus Asclepias) are nectar-rich wildflowers that can add bright blooms and pollinator activity to sunny gardens and containers.
Passionflowers (genus Passiflora) are climbing vines known for their intricate, otherworldly blooms and their ability to add vertical color to fences, trellises, and sunny walls.
Salvias are a big, colorful group of flowering plants in the genus Salvia, with especially rich diversity in Mexico. Many are easy, pollinator-friendly garden plants that bloom over a long season when given sun and well-drained soil.
Wild lilacs (genus Calliandra) are warm-climate shrubs known for fluffy “powderpuff” blooms that can add color and pollinator activity to sunny gardens and patios.
Pollinators
Adults visit flowers for nectar and pollen, and many species’ larvae help keep plant-eating pests in check.
They can move pollen between flowers while feeding on nectar, especially for blooms that open or scent up in the evening.
They move pollen between flowers while feeding, helping many plants reproduce.
They move pollen between flowers over long distances, helping some plants set fruit and seed.
They move pollen between flowers over long distances and help many plants set fruit and seed.
They move pollen between flowers while feeding on nectar, supporting seed and fruit production in many plants.
They help pollinate many wild and cultivated plants in tropical and subtropical regions, supporting food webs and biodiversity.
