Common Name:

General Information

Tabebuia rosea is a deciduous tree with a rounded or spreading crown; it can grow up to 30 metres tall. The straight bole, which is often buttressed, can be up to 1 metre in diameter[].
This is one of the most important timber trees of Central America, being widely harvested from the wild and used for a great variety of purposes[]. When in flower, it has few equals among Central American trees for beauty. It blossoms when leafless and is then like a huge bouquet of flowers, which can vary in shade from deep rose-purple to pure white (rarely)[].
Tabebuia rosea has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Northern S. America - Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela; north to the Caribbean and through Central America to Mexico.

Habitat

Common in moist or rather dry forest, often in open fields or along roadsides, most abundant on the Pacific plains, but often on steep hillsides, at elevations up to 1,200 metres in Guatemala[]. Coastal thickets in Dominica[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Conservation Status	Least Concern
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist tropics, where it is found at elevations from 100 - 1,200 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 30°c, but can tolerate 17 - 34°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 1,250 - 2,500mm[].
Grows best in a sunny position[]. Succeeds in most soils that are fertile[]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7, tolerating 4.5 - 8.5[]. Requires a somewhat sheltered position because branches are easily broken by strong winds[, ].
This species can sometimes be invasive[].
Trees can commence flowering when only 3 years old from seed[].
Annual wood production potential is 10 - 20 metric tonnes per hectare[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is used to provide shade in coffee and cocoa plantations[].

Other Uses

The wood is a rather dull greyish brown with a fine striping of deep brown, often in a conspicuous pattern on the tangential surface[]. It is without distinctive odour or taste; the grain is usually straight, but sometimes roey or wavy; the texture medium. The wood is moderately light and soft to rather hard and heavy; fairly durable. It is easy to work, finishes smoothly, seasons without difficulty. It is said that if the wood is cut green and stacked to dry, it acquires a dark colour, without losing its striping, and is then of different appearance from wood treated in the more usual manner[]. An excellent timber, it is used for a great variety of purposes such as heavy construction; furniture and cabinetwork; interior finish; boat building; carts, and many other kinds of work[]. A large part of the cheaper chairs of Central America are made from this wood[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe[]. Germination usually takes place in 3 - 4 days[].
Cuttings of half-ripe wood[].
Air layering.

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