Can you picture a palm tree, vibrant and bursting with color, standing proudly in a small roundabout? This is the Palmera de Colores, a unique landmark here in Mexico City. Originally, this spot, known as the Glorieta de la Palma, was famous for a towering, single Canarian palm tree. It stood watch over this intersection of Paseo de la Reforma, Río Rhin Street, and Niza Street for over a century. Interestingly, as of February 2025, this roundabout remains the only one along Reforma without a traditional monument. The Mexican Stock Exchange building sits nearby, just across from the Zona Rosa.
The original palm, sadly, succumbed to pathogens in 2022. A grand farewell ceremony was held, and the tree was carefully removed. The city held a poll to determine its replacement. The people spoke, and a Montezuma cypress, or ahuehuete, was chosen. This young tree, a native of Monterrey, was planted on World Environment Day in 2022. The Glorieta was officially renamed Glorieta del Ahuehuete. However, a determined group of activists also claimed this space. They installed photos of missing persons and symbolically renamed it Glorieta de las y los Desaparecidos, or Roundabout of the Disappeared. They view the ahuehuete as “The Guardian of the Disappeared.” This roundabout, then, became a place of layered meanings. A place of natural beauty, a marker of urban development, and a poignant reminder of a national tragedy.
The new ahuehuete faced challenges. A car accident damaged it shortly after planting. The tree struggled, and despite efforts, it was removed for rehabilitation in early 2023. Another ahuehuete took its place in May 2023. Just days later, a man vandalized the young tree with cement. This act was condemned, with some suggesting political motivations. The Palmera de Colores, as we know it today, honors the spirit of this location. The colorful painted palm symbolizes the original tree and serves as a vibrant focal point. It acknowledges the ongoing struggle for remembrance represented by the activists’ efforts, while also adding a touch of artistic flair to this ever-evolving space.