Southern Mexican Pacific Hills and Piedmonts with Low Tropical Deciduous Forest extends across the Southern Pacific coastal plains and adjoining hills, from Jalisco to Oaxaca, characterized by warm, sub-humid climates and forest vegetation that loses most or all of its foliage during the intense dry season.
Zone
Forest
Common Name
South Pacific Hills and Piedmonts with Low Tropical Deciduous Forest
CEC Level III Code
14.5.2
CEC Level II Code
14.5 Tropical Dry Forests
Overview
Region facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Aliases | South Pacific Hills and Piedmonts with Low Tropical Deciduous Forest, South Pacific Hills & Piedmonts, South Pacific tropical deciduous forest hills/piedmonts |
| Geographic Range | This subregion extends across the entire Southern Pacific coastal plains and adjoining hills, from Jalisco to Oaxaca, and is part of the Southern Coasts and Coastal Sierras of Jalisco and Colima. |
| Climate Snapshot | The predominant climate is warm and sub-humid with summer rainfall and an intense, long, extremely dry period with high temperatures from January to May. |
| Terrain Profile | The terrain is characterized by plains, hills, inter-mountain valleys, and some low sierras, with elevations ranging from sea level up to sporadically above 1,000 meters above sea level. |
| Vegetation Cover | The vegetation is predominantly tropical deciduous forest, characterized by arboreal species that lose most or all of their foliage during the long, intense dry season, typically oscillating between five and 15 meters in height. |
| Wildlife Habitat | The region is home to diverse wildlife, including reptiles like the boa constrictor and rattlesnake, birds such as the eagle and macaw, and mammals including the coyote, deer, and wild boar. |
Eco snapshot
The vegetation is predominantly tropical deciduous forest, characterized by arboreal species that lose most or all of their foliage during the long, intense dry season, typically oscillating between five and 15 meters in height.
The region is home to diverse wildlife, including reptiles like the boa constrictor and rattlesnake, birds such as the eagle and macaw, and mammals including the coyote, deer, and wild boar.
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 water; shelter from heat and wind | Plant or protect early-blooming natives; keep a small water dish with landing stones; avoid yard “clean-ups” that remove shelter |
| Spring | Steady bloom; nesting materials and sites | Add a mix of flowering shrubs and herbs; leave some bare, well-drained soil; keep some hollow stems/woody bits |
| Summer | Continuous flowers; shade and hydration; pesticide-free forage | Plant heat-tolerant bloomers; provide partial shade and water; avoid all insecticides (including “ant/bug” yard treatments) |
| Late summer/fall | “Bridge” blooms; energy for reproduction; habitat connectivity | Add late-season flowers; let some plants go to seed; keep hedgerows/edges flowering instead of mowing everything |
| Dry Season (winter or dry season) | Survival resources: shelter, occasional blooms, and water | Maintain mulch and soil cover; protect nesting areas; water young plants deeply but less often; keep any off-season bloomers you can |
Seed mix concept
Spring starter: fast, early bloomers that establish quickly when moisture arrives.
Summer bridge: heat-tolerant, long-blooming plants that keep nectar and pollen available through peak warmth.
Fall finisher (or late-season bridge): plants that flower later and help cover the transition into the dry season.
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.
