Tree Species and Landscaping Characteristics

A collection of flashcards detailing native and non-native tree species found in the Philippines, including their scientific names, origins, and landscaping uses.

Tree

A plant with a common single trunk that supports leaves and branches, used to delineate spaces, define boundaries, show focal points, and symbolize the permanence of greenspaces.

Dita (Alstonia scholaris)

A native evergreen tree in the Philippines that can grow up to $40\,m$ in height, characterized by pagoda-shaped crowns and smooth, whitish bark that grows in horizontal and vertical directions.

Araucaria (Araucaria heterophylla)

A non-native gymnosperm (non-flowering tree) from Australia with a conical growth form reaching $30\,m$, well-suited for full sun and moderate to little watering.

Aunasin (Ardisia pyramidalis)

A small native shrubby tree with pink star-shaped flowers that grows best in semi-shaded areas and requires regular watering.

Neem Tree (Azadirachta indica)

A non-native evergreen tree from the Indian subcontinent known for leaves that serve as a natural insect repellent and for providing fragrance when blooming.

Botong (Barringtonia asiatica)

A native coastal tree reaching $30\,m$ with broad, shiny leaves and unique flowers with pink and white needles that last only one night.

Napoleon’s Plume (Bauhinia monandra)

An ornamental non-native tree from Asia known for distinctive leaves that mimic butterfly wings and pinkish-white flowers.

Bottle Brush Tree (Callistemon viminalis)

A non-native woody shrub or small tree from Australia reaching $4\,m$ with flowers resembling baby milk bottle brushes and a weeping branching system.

Bitaog (Calophyllum inophyllum)

A native medium tree tolerant of salt spray and sandy soil, featuring leathery glossy leaves and round fruit that can be hazardous in parking spaces.

Ylang-Ylang (Cananga odorata)

A native tree reaching $20\,m$ known for producing the best floral scents used in perfumes and for traditional medicinal purposes.

Kalingag (Cinnamomum mercadoi)

Also known as Philippine cinnamon, this native tree is valued for its aromatic scent which comes from its rough, yellowish bark used in food flavoring.

Bagawak Morado (Clerodendrum quadriloculare)

A native tree known as the 'starburst shrub' because its flowers look like cotton buds with pink tubes that create a fireworks effect when they open.

Salingbobog (Crateva religiosa)

Known as 'Balai-lamok', this beautiful native flowering tree produces flowers with white petals and long pink petioles, blooming around February to March.

Handkerchief Tree (Cynometra ramiflora)

A native small tree with a round canopy, beach species characteristics, and fruits that look like human brains.

Katmon (Dillenia philippinensis)

An endemic underutilized tree valued for fruit processed into jams and pickles, and for evergreen leaves suitable for windbreaks.

Rainbow Tree (Eucalyptus deglupta)

The only native Eucalyptus species in the northern hemisphere, found in Mindanao and famous for its colorful bark; not recommended for streets due to utility damage risk.

Variegated Weeping Fig (Ficus benjamina 'Variegata')

A non-native small woody plant with white leaf margins, often used for topiary or bonsai because it is responsive to pruning.

Ficus Heteropoda

A large native fig species that grows up to $20\,m$ and serves as a bird and butterfly magnet by producing yellow-orange fig fruits several times a year.

Malibago (Hibiscus tiliaceus)

A native beach hibiscus with high salinity tolerance and crooked branches that provide wind resistance, ideal for windbreaks.

Red Banaba (Lagerstroemia langkawiensis)

An endangered non-native tree from Malaysia introduced for ornamental use, featuring leaves that turn dark red to maroon in full sunlight.

Revolution Gold (Melaleuca bracteata 'Revolution Gold')

A non-native Australian cultivar reaching $6\,m$ with fluorescent yellow foliage, highly resistant to saline spray and ideal for coastal cities.

Tsampakang Puti (Michelia alba)

A non-native flowering tree from China that emanates a flowery scent, especially at night, and thrives in acidic soils under full sun.

Mussaenda (Mussaenda spp.)

A genus of shrubs/trees known as the Kahoy-dalaga plant, featuring specialized pink sepals (e.g., 'Queen Sirikit' hybrid) to attract pollinators.

Benguet Pine (Pinus kesiya)

A native large tree reaching $35\,m$ that occurs naturally in elevations of $300\text{ to }2700\,m$ above sea level, valued for its scent and calming effects.

Mamalis (Pittosporum pentandrum)

A native, drought-resistant tree known as Taiwanese cheesewood that attracts pollinators with tiny white flowers covering the crown.

Indian Tree (Polyalthia longifolia)

A non-native tree from Sri Lanka and India that is highly tolerant to roadside pollutants and ideal for fence plantings or windbreaks.

Bani (Pongamia pinnata)

A fast-growing native evergreen found on shorelines that produces white fragrant flowers used by bees for honey production.

Rain Tree (Samanea saman)

A non-native tree with crowns that can reach over $30\,m$ in spread; its aggressive root system can cause significant damage to sidewalks and pipes.

Saraca (Saraca indica)

A non-native tropical tree reaching $10\,m$ that produces flowers directly from the branches and trunks, with colors coming from sepals rather than petals.

Antsoan Dilao (Senna spectabilis)

A non-native small to medium sized tree from South America used for road planting and soil erosion control due to its bright yellow flowers.

Pink Trumpet Tree (Tabebuia heterophylla)

A non-native tree from the Caribbean Islands reaching $15\,m$, famous for its pink flowers and palmate leaves with yellow midribs.

Sampaloc (Tamarindus indica)

A naturalized non-native tree reaching $25\,m$ with sweet and tangy fruits used as a souring agent in the Filipino dish sinigang.

Banalo (Thespesia populnea)

A native coastal tree with heart-shaped leaves and flowers that change from yellow to dark orange; requires root barriers due to aggressive growth.

First Love (Xanthostemon chrysanthus)

A non-native Australian rheophyte capable of growing in fast-moving water, making it ideal for flood-prone riverbanks.