# Guanacaste (Enterolobium cyclocarpum)

> 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.

Source: https://treerm.org/trees/enterolobium-cyclocarpum · Updated 2026-11-08 · License CC BY 4.0

## Facts

- Also called: Elephant-ear tree, Ear pod tree, Parota, Caro
- Family: Fabaceae
- Type: Broadleaf, drops leaves
- Mature height: 30 m; spread 30 m
- Growth: Fast growing; lives about 200 years
- Light: Full sun
- Water: Low water
- 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.

**Benefits:** Shade, Fixes nitrogen, Wildlife, Drought tolerant, Fast canopy, Long lived, Stores carbon well

**Good for:** Agroforestry, parks, Timber, Yard shade

**Watch out for:** Large roots, Heavy litter, Surface roots

## 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.

## Where it stands

- **Native:** Brazil (Northern Brazil); Colombia; Costa Rica (National tree of Costa Rica); Guatemala; Honduras; Mexico; Nicaragua; Panama; Venezuela
- **Adapted:** Cuba (Introduced per WCVP); Philippines (Introduced per WCVP); HI, United States (Introduced per WCVP)

## 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