Family: Meliaceae
A medium-sized tree that features a rounded crown packed dense with leaves. It is a fast grower but can’t thrive with shade. It is both wind and salt tolerant. This low maintenance tree drops little to no leaf litter.
Plant Uses:
- Medicinal
- Ornamental
- Privacy / screening
- Specimen
- Windbreak
- Woodworking
Plant Dangers:
- No dangers
High Risk Traits:
- Naturalized beyond native range (Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, O'ahu, potentially naturalizing on Kaua'i, Maui and Hawai'i island).
- Tolerant of a wide range of soil conditions (pH up to ~8.5).
- Congeneric weed (other Swietenia species are invasive).
- Self-compatible (can set high quantities of seed via self-pollination).
- Hybridizes naturally with other Swietenia species.
- Seeds dispersed by wind.
Low Risk Traits:
- Shade intolerant (seedlings require light).
- No spines, thorns, or burrs.
- Not allelopathic, parasitic, or toxic to animals (used as fodder).
- No evidence of vegetative fragmentation (propagated by seed).
- Long time to first flowering/fruiting (12-13 years).
- Seeds not transported by animals.
- No evidence of seed bank persistence (>1 year).
