Tipuana
A tall South American tree with bright yellow summer flowers
Tipuana is a large deciduous tree from South America, known for its wide canopy and bright yellow flowers that bloom briefly in late summer. It is valued as a shade tree but is considered invasive in some countries due to its aggressive roots and prolific seed production.
- Grows up to 25 metres tall with a wide canopy
- Produces bright yellow flowers in late summer
- Known for aggressive roots that can lift concrete
- Listed as invasive in South Africa
- Its seeds germinate easily and spread widely
What does Tipuana look like?
Tipuana is a tall tree, usually reaching 10 to 25 metres high and spreading 15 to 20 metres wide. Its leaves are pinnately compound, about 25 cm long, with small leaflets. The tree produces bright yellow flowers in late summer, though the bloom is brief. Its fruit is a hard, winged pod, shaped somewhat like an ash tree's samara, and it sheds these along with its leaves from midwinter to spring. The timber is whitish, strong and fibrous.
Where does Tipuana come from?
Tipuana is native to South America and is the only species in its genus. It belongs to the Dalbergieae family and has been placed in the Pterocarpus clade. The tree has spread to other regions as a shade tree, but its ability to grow in a wide range of conditions and produce many seeds has led to it becoming invasive in some countries, including South Africa.
When and how Tipuana blooms
Tipuana blooms in late summer, producing a mass of yellow flowers for a short period. It is largely deciduous, dropping its leaves and pods from midwinter to spring. The tree tolerates drought, salty soils, and temperatures down to −4 °C. It is usually grown from seed, which germinates easily, and can thrive in many environments.
How Tipuana is used
While Tipuana is planted for shade due to its broad canopy, its aggressive roots can cause damage to nearby structures. In some countries, it is considered an invasive species, and there are restrictions on planting or trading its seeds and cuttings. Its wood can be legally traded, but not material that could grow into new plants.
Kinds of Tipuana
Tipuana is a monotypic genus, meaning it contains only one species, Tipuana tipu. There are no notable cultivars or varieties described in the sources.
What Tipuana means
Tipuana is sometimes called 'Pride of Bolivia' and is valued for its shade and ornamental flowers. However, in places like South Africa, it is regulated as a Category 3 invasive species due to its potential to spread and disrupt local ecosystems. Its roots can damage infrastructure, so planting is controlled.
Where Tipuana is used and seen
Questions people ask about Tipuana
Where does Tipuana come from?
Tipuana is native to South America and is the only species in its genus. It has been introduced to other regions as a shade tree.
What does the Tipuana tree look like?
It is a large, deciduous tree with a wide canopy, pinnately compound leaves, and bright yellow flowers that bloom briefly in late summer. Its fruit is a hard, winged pod.
Why is Tipuana considered invasive?
Tipuana produces many seeds that germinate easily and has aggressive roots that can damage structures. In some countries, such as South Africa, it is regulated as an invasive species.
Is Tipuana used for anything?
It is mainly planted as a shade tree and its wood can be traded. However, its seeds and cuttings are restricted in some places due to its invasive nature.
Does Tipuana have any symbolic meaning?
It is sometimes called 'Pride of Bolivia,' but the sources do not mention any specific symbolic or cultural meanings.
Good reading and sources
- USDA Plants DatabaseUS Department of Agriculture, Article
- IUCN Red List of Threatened SpeciesIUCN Red List, Article
- Plants of the World OnlineRoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Plant database
- Where it has been recordedGBIF, Plant database
- Sightings and photos by naturalistsiNaturalist, Plant database
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Tipuana", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. It is not medical or foraging advice: many flowers are poisonous, and traditional uses are reported, not recommended. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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