| Summary: | Diameter growth is an important variable to select tree species for plantations, reforestation and ecological restoration projects, and for planting in gardens and along avenues. The objective of this study was to determine diameter growth rates in both, deciduous and broadleaf evergreen tree species, in a lower montane tropical forest near Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. Diametric growth was measured annually during five years in the Botanical Garden forest (112 individuals) and in the Parque Ecológico Clavijero (80 individuals), and during a year in Banderilla (36 individuals). Average diameter growth increment was greater in the managed forest at the Botanical Garden (0.83 cm/yr) than in the natural forest (0.29 cm/yr). This suggests forest tree species have a high potential to increment growth rates. Growth in diameter in the natural forest was faster comparing with other montane forests. Species with the highest growth rates were Platanus mexicana, Quercus acutifolia, Cornus disciflora and Liquidambar styraciflua var. mexicana in the Botanical Garden, and L. styraciflua var. mexicana, Q. xalapensis, Clethra mexicana and Q. acutifolia in the natural forest. Deciduous species diameter growth was 0.94 cm/yr in the Botanical Garden and 0.36 cm/yr in the natural forest, and broadleaf evergreen grew 0.60 and 0.15 cm/yr, respectively.
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