Paradise Tree

Simarouba glauca

The Paradise Tree is a tall and beautiful tree that grows in warm places. It has shiny green leaves and can produce small fruits that are loved by birds and other animals.

Habitat: Tropical forests

Appearance

The Paradise Tree is a tall, stately tree with a straight trunk and a dense, rounded crown. It has bright green, pinnate leaves and small, yellowish-white flowers that develop into distinctive oval, purplish-black fruits.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderSapindalesFamilySimaroubaceaeGenusSimarouba

Photo: VinayarajCC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia CommonsView original ↗

Paradise Tree

Interesting facts

Even its bitter fruit pulp can be used to make natural insect repellents!

Indigenous people have long used its bark to create traditional medicines.

Its seeds yield a special oil once prized as "botanical olive oil"!

The wood of this tree is very durable and naturally resistant to pests!

Special abilities

Paradise Tree can thrive in dry conditions because its deep roots tap into underground water sources, helping it survive droughts.

Paradise Tree has brightly colored fruits that attract birds, helping it scatter its seeds far and wide to grow new trees.

Paradise Tree can produce bitter compounds in its bark and leaves, which deter hungry herbivores and pests.

Measurements & details

Height: 1500-2000 cm
Spread: 500-1000 cm
Flower Size: 0.5-1 cm
Bloom Season: Late Winter to Spring
Edible: No
Toxicity: Mild
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

Eaten by

Clay-colored Thrush

Turdus grayi

disperses seeds by eating fruit

Pollinates

European Honey Bee

Apis mellifera

collects nectar from flowers

Shelter

Virginia Opossum

Didelphis virginiana

rests in its branches

Pollinates

Bananaquit

Coereba flaveola

sips nectar from flowers

Traits

Shade Tolerant

Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.

Broadleaf Tree

Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.

Evergreen

Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once.

Fruit Bearing

Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.

Medicinal

Medicinal plants possess chemical compounds that can be used for therapeutic purposes to treat illnesses or maintain health.

Fruit Tree

A fruit tree is a perennial tree that produces fruit, which is edible to humans or animals.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Giant

Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type.

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Plants

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always be careful around trees and watch where you step.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to identify Paradise Tree?

Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

How tall is Paradise Tree?

1500-2000 cm

How wide does Paradise Tree spread?

500-1000 cm

How big are the flowers on Paradise Tree?

0.5-1 cm

When does Paradise Tree bloom?

Late Winter to Spring

Is Paradise Tree edible?

Is Paradise Tree toxic?

Mild

What is Paradise Tree's lifecycle?