{"slug":"enterolobium-cyclocarpum","scientific_name":"Enterolobium cyclocarpum","common_names":["Guanacaste","Elephant-ear tree","Ear pod tree","Parota","Caro"],"family":"Fabaceae","type":"broadleaf_deciduous","mature_height_m":30,"mature_spread_m":30,"growth_rate":"fast","lifespan_years":200,"hardiness_zones":null,"sun":"full","water":"low","soil":"Tolerates alkaline, calcareous and acidic soils; medium-textured soils are best, but it grows on eroded clays, shallow sandy clays and porous limestone","native_range":"Native from Mexico through Central America to Colombia, Venezuela, the Guianas and northern Brazil; introduced to the Caribbean, West Africa and Asia.","description":"The national tree of Costa Rica, a huge spreading nitrogen-fixing tree to 40 m with a trunk to 3 m and a crown wider than it is tall, feathery leaves and glossy dark ear-shaped pods. It is the great pasture shade tree of Central America: cattle rest beneath it and eat the sweet pods in the dry season, and it shades coffee. It is far too big for gardens but ideal for parks, plazas and farmland.","care":"Plant in full sun at 4 x 4 m or wider; it is shade intolerant and must dominate from the sapling stage. Weed carefully for the first years; prune to lengthen the bole if timber is wanted. Water the first dry season only. Resprouts vigorously after lopping. Few pests: parrots take green pods, a gall midge disrupts fruiting and Fusarium can drop limbs from old trees.","benefits":["shade","nitrogen_fixing","wildlife","drought_tolerant","fast_canopy","long_lived","carbon"],"uses":["agroforestry","parks","timber","yard_shade"],"cautions":["large_roots","heavy_litter","surface_roots"],"image_url":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/%C3%81rbol_de_Guancaste.jpg","image_credit":"Wikimedia Commons, file Árbol_de_Guancaste.jpg (see file page for author and licence)","sources":["https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/speciesprofile.php?Spid=734","https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Enterolobium_cyclocarpum.PDF","https://www.gbif.org/species/2961150"],"data_note":null,"updated_at":"2026-11-08T01:00:46.205Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/enterolobium-cyclocarpum","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/enterolobium-cyclocarpum.md","regions":[{"country":"BR","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Northern Brazil","source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/2961150"},{"country":"CO","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/2961150"},{"country":"CR","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":"National tree of Costa Rica","source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/2961150"},{"country":"GT","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/2961150"},{"country":"HN","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/2961150"},{"country":"MX","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/2961150"},{"country":"NI","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/2961150"},{"country":"PA","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/2961150"},{"country":"VE","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/2961150"},{"country":"CU","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"Introduced per WCVP","source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/2961150"},{"country":"PH","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"Introduced per WCVP","source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/2961150"},{"country":"US","region":"HI","locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"Introduced per WCVP","source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/2961150"}],"license":"CC-BY-4.0"}