Family: Rutaceae
Aegle marmelos, commonly known as bael, Bengal quince, or golden apple, is a small to medium-sized tree in the citrus family native to India and Southeast Asia. This tree is valued for its fragrant flowers, aromatic leaves, and hard-shelled fruit, which has been used in traditional medicine and cultural practices for centuries. Bael is widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions and is often grown as an ornamental or for its edible fruit, which can be eaten fresh or processed into drinks, candies, or preserves. Its deep cultural and medicinal significance has made it a popular species in home gardens and temple landscapes across Asia.
In Hawaiʻi, bael has been introduced but is not widely cultivated or naturalized. While it does not currently pose a major invasive threat, it has the potential to spread in favorable tropical climates. As with any non-native plant, caution should be taken when planting bael to ensure it does not escape cultivation and displace native species. Plant Pono encourages careful selection of trees and ornamentals, favoring non-invasive species that support healthy island ecosystems.
High Risk Traits:
- Possibly naturalized in Lao, Pohnpei and maybe elsewhere
- Thrives in tropical climates
- Environmentally versatile
- Young suckers are spiny
- Potentially allelopathic
- Shade-tolerant
- Tolerates many soil conditions (and potentially able to exploit many different habitat types)
- Self-compatible
- Seeds dispersed by mammals, people and possibly birds
- Able to coppice and sprout from root suckers
Low Risk Traits:
- Despite potential to spread, no negative impacts have been documented
- Fodder tree
- Edible fruit
- Reaches maturity in 5 or more years
- Landscaping and ornamental value
- Medicinal uses
- Seeds will not persist in the soil
