Family: Fabaceae
Origin, Description & Uses
Wallaceodendron celebicum is a large, long-lived tropical tree native to the Philippines and Sulawesi. It develops a tall, straight trunk with a broad, spreading crown and attractive, finely divided foliage that creates light, filtered shade. The tree produces creamy-white, fragrant flowers followed by long, flattened seed pods. Because of its rapid growth, stately appearance, and durable hardwood, it is widely valued as a shade tree, ornamental, and timber species. Its high-quality wood is used for construction, furniture, flooring, cabinetry, and other specialty wood products, while its broad canopy makes it a popular choice for parks, large gardens, and agroforestry plantings in tropical regions.
Risks & Threats
Wallaceodendron celebicum is considered a low-risk species for Hawaiʻi. There is no evidence that it has become invasive or naturalized in the Hawaiian Islands or elsewhere outside its native range. It does not exhibit the aggressive reproductive or spreading characteristics associated with invasive trees, and there are no known reports of it displacing native vegetation or negatively impacting natural ecosystems. As with any non-native species, it should be planted thoughtfully and monitored over time, but current evidence indicates that it poses little risk to Hawaiʻi’s environment and is an appropriate choice where a large, tropical shade or timber tree is desired.
High Risk Traits:
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Reproduces by seeds
- Seeds dispersed by wind, possibly water and intentionally by people
- Seeds may form a persistent seed bank
- Limited ecological information may reduce accuracy of risk prediction
Low Risk Traits:
- No reports of invasiveness or naturalization, but limited evidence of widespread introduction outside native range
- Unarmed (no spines, thorns, or burrs)
- Valued timber tree
- Shade-intolerant
