Tallow Wood
Ximenia americana
- Native to:
- American Samoa, Andaman Is., Angola, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Benin, Bismarck Archipelago, Bolivia, Borneo, Botswana, Brazil, Burkina, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Caprivi Strip, Caroline Is., Cayman Is., Central African Republic, Chad, Christmas I., Cocos (Keeling) Is., Colombia, Congo, Cook Is., Costa Rica, Cuba, Djibouti, Dominican Republic, DR Congo, Ecuador, El Salvador, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Guiana, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guam, Guatemala, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Gulf of Guinea Is., Guyana, Hainan, Haiti, Honduras, India, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jawa, Kenya, Leeward Is., Lesser Sunda Is., Liberia, Line Is., Malawi, Malaya, Mali, Maluku, Marianas, Marshall Is., Marshall Islands, Mexico, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Netherlands Antilles, New Caledonia, New Guinea, Nicaragua, Nicobar Is., Niger, Nigeria, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Panamá, Paraguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Samoa, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Society Is., Solomon Is.
J.M.Garg
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Olacaceae
- Genus:
- Ximenia
- Species:
- Ximenia americana
- USDA Symbol:
- XIAM
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Shrub , Tree
- Height:
- 800 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- yellow, greenish-yellow
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Butterflies & Moths:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, mammals
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, well-drained, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 5.5 - 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- often found in open woodlands and savannas
Propagation & Germination
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 30–90 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require scarification (nicking or hot water treatment) to break hard seed coat; germination is erratic.