Plants

tipu tree

Tipuana tipu

Family: Fabaceae · Genus: Tipuana

pride of Bolivia, rosewood, yellow jacaranda

Secondary II Emergent Fertilizer biomass 🌱 Nitrogen fixer 🪓 Coppices after cutting

tipu tree — Felagund · CC BY-SA · Wikimedia Commons

A very fast-growing leguminous tree of 10-30 m, with a broad spreading crown, native to southern Bolivia, northern Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay and southern Brazil. It fixes nitrogen in symbiosis with soil bacteria and is valued for shade, rapid growth and drought tolerance once established. In some Mediterranean climates it has become invasive through prolific self-seeding.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage: Secondary II
Ecological role: Early secondary
Primary stratum: Emergent
Strata: Emergent, High
Biomass class: Fertilizer biomass

Environment

Light requirement: Full sun
Water requirement: Moderate
Drought tolerance: High
Waterlogging tolerance: Low
Soil pH range: 5–7.5
Preferred soil texture: Loamy, Sandy, Clayey
Hardiness zones: 9–11
Frost tolerance: -5.0 °C

Morphology

Mature height: 10–30 m
Recommended spacing: 2–12 m
Root system: Taproot
Root depth: Shallow
Growth rate: Very fast
Lifespan: ≤ 150 years
Time to first harvest: 18 months

Biomes & climate

Atlantic Forest Native
Pampa Native
Cerrado Suitable

Köppen classes

Humid subtropical (Cfa) Native
Subtropical with dry winter (Cwa) Native
Oceanic (Cfb) Suitable
Hot-summer Mediterranean (Csa) Suitable

Where it fits in a guild

Tipu tree takes the Emergent stratum in the Secondary II 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. It also fixes nitrogen, feeding the soil for its line neighbors.

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🪴 Cultivation

Thrives only in warm climates (USDA zones 9-11); grows 1-1.5 m per year when young, reaching shade size in 5-8 years. Potentially invasive — control self-seeding.

✂️ Management & Pruning

A fast-growing fixer that responds well to pollarding, coppicing and lopping, resprouting vigorously (young trees resprout from roots in spring after frost). In a cutting trial, plants cut at 1 m on 6/8/12-week intervals yielded most leaf at the 12-week (quarterly) interval, with 100% survival over 2 years — more frequent cutting reduced yield. Practically, cut to ~1 m on a quarterly rotation for maximum biomass; periodic pollarding releases light through its light, spreading crown. Cut in the warm growing season (spring–summer); because the wood is brittle, manage crown size with repeated light pollarding rather than letting heavy limbs form.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: October, November, December, January

Fruiting months: February, March, April, May

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of tipu tree?

The first harvest of tipu tree comes around 18 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for tipu tree?

The recommended spacing for tipu tree is 2–12 m.

How tall does tipu tree grow?

At maturity, tipu tree reaches 10–30 m tall.

When does tipu tree fruit?

Fruiting of tipu tree occurs in February, March, April, May.

When does tipu tree flower?

Flowering of tipu tree occurs in October, November, December, January.

What stage and stratum does tipu tree occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, tipu tree belongs to the secondary ii stage, occupying the emergent stratum.

Does tipu tree fix nitrogen?

Yes — tipu tree is a nitrogen-fixing species that helps fertilize the system's soil.

Functions

🌱 Nitrogen fixer 🌿 Biomass producer 🪴 Nurse plant Windbreak Timber Ornamental 🍯 Melliferous Fodder

Propagation

Seed

Citations

World Agroforestry (ICRAF) AgroforesTree Database — Tipuana tipu (height_min_m, height_max_m, nitrogen_fixer, growth_rate, functions, gotsch_stage, root_depth, ph_min, ph_max, pruning_notes)
Useful Tropical Plants — Tipuana tipu (drought_tolerance, hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, biomes, cultivation_notes, root_depth, ph_min, ph_max, waterlogging_tolerance, pruning_notes)
Pottinger & Sandford — Tipuana tipu cutting regime, Agroforestry Systems (pruning_notes, time_to_first_harvest_months)
Gardening Know How — How to grow Tipuana trees (lifespan_years_max, hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max)
Prefeitura de Passo Fundo — Tipuana (phenology)