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pink lapacho

Handroanthus impetiginosus (Mart. ex DC.) Mattos

Family: Bignoniaceae · Genus: Handroanthus

pink ipê, pink trumpet tree

Climax Emergent Mulch biomass
Francisco Farriols Sarabia · CC BY · iNaturalist

Emergent tree native to Cerrado, Atlantic Forest, Caatinga, Amazon, and Pantanal. Reaches 20–35 m in the wild, 8–12 m in cultivation. Vivid magenta-pink flowering in July–September before the leaves. Extremely dense timber. Medicinal bark — pink lapacho of traditional pharmacopoeia. A very long-lived climax species in syntropic systems.

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Tabebuia impetiginosa (Mart. ex DC.) Standl., Tabebuia avellanedae Lorentz ex Griseb.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Climax
Ecological role
Climax
Primary stratum
Emergent
Strata
Emergent, High
Biomass class
Mulch biomass

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Moderate
Drought tolerance
High
Soil pH range
5–7
Preferred soil texture
Loamy, Sandy, Clayey
Hardiness zones
9–12

Morphology

Mature height
15–35 m
Recommended spacing
6–10 m
Root system
Taproot
Root depth
Deep
Growth rate
Moderate
Lifespan
80–300 years

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Pink lapacho takes the Emergent stratum in the Climax phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.

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Emergent · ≈35 m High Medium Low Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Spacing 2×2 m to 3×3 m in nursery; 8×8 m in syntropic systems. Full sun, well-drained sandy-clay soil, pH 6–7.

✂️ Management & Pruning

Training pruning in the juvenile phase to form a single trunk; a dense-wooded climax species, not managed by coppicing/resprouting. Collect seeds at the onset of fruit dehiscence, as they begin to disperse.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: July, August, September

Fruiting months: October, November, December

❓ Frequently asked questions

What spacing is recommended for pink lapacho?

The recommended spacing for pink lapacho is 6–10 m.

How tall does pink lapacho grow?

At maturity, pink lapacho reaches 15–35 m tall.

When does pink lapacho fruit?

Fruiting of pink lapacho occurs in October, November, December.

When does pink lapacho flower?

Flowering of pink lapacho occurs in July, August, September.

What stage and stratum does pink lapacho occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, pink lapacho belongs to the climax stage, occupying the emergent stratum.

Functions

Timber 🍯 Melliferous Medicinal Ornamental 🌿 Biomass producer

Propagation

Seed

Citations

  1. Embrapa — Plantas medicinais: Handroanthus impetiginosus (Ipê-roxo) — Capítulo 5 (description, biomes)
  2. CNCFlora — Handroanthus impetiginosus (biomes)
  3. www.sementerara.com.br (propagation, cultivation_notes, pruning_notes)
  4. floradobrasil.jbrj.gov.br (biomes, family, genus)

External references

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