SHADY REPUTATION

THE BEAUTYLEAF OR BEACH CALOPHYLLUM IS PRIZED ACROSS ASIA AS A SHADE TREE BUT IT ALSO HAS A DARK SIDE

Words Jennifer Stackhouse

The beautyleaf tree definitely has a split personality. While it’s admired for its beauty and shade, there’s a dangerous undercurrent. This is a tree native to the tropics where it’s grown in parks and on large properties as a shade tree. One of its many names is mastwood as it was traditionally used to build outrigger canoes. As well as providing welcome shade with its broad, spreading branches, the beautyleaf is regarded as cyclone and termite proof, making it a very clever and useful plant, tolerant of coastal as well as inland locations. Its leaves are glossy green and it produces fragrant white flowers, attractive to birds. The flowers form in clusters, each bloom on a long stem. The round buds open to reveal flowers with thick white petals and a boss of…

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Good Organic Gardening (Digital) - 1 Issue, Issue #13.4 - 2022

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