Santalum — 12 species
Botanical species in the genus Santalum recorded in the PlantPeers database.


Santalum album
Santalum album
Family: Santalaceae
Cultivation
Grows in tropical and subtropical areas, usually at elevations below 1,200 metres but occasionally as high as 2,500 metres. The reported temperature range for growth is 10 - 38°c, with the optimum between 22 - 30°c. It can survive temperatures down to 2°c.
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Santalum austrocaledonicum
Santalum austrocaledonicum
Family: Santalaceae
Cultivation
The plant grows naturally in warm to hot lowland areas in the tropics at elevations up to 800 metres, but usually below 300 metres. It prefers a mean annual temperature in the range 23 - 27°c. It is found in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 1,250 - 1,750mm (though it can tolerate 800 - 2,500mm), and there is a distinct dry season of 3 - 5 months.
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Santalum ellipticum
Santalum ellipticum
Family: Santalaceae
Cultivation
Santalum ellipticum is a plant of arid lowland habitats in the Hawaiian Islands, growing at elevations up to 560 metres, exceptionally to 960 metres. It grows in frost-free areas; the mean annual rainfall can range from 50 - 1,300mm, usually with a dry season of 2 - 5 months and often with a summer drought. Prefers a position with moderate side shade, but little overhead shade; it grows poorly in deeper shade, but can do well in full sun if attached to a suitable host.
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Santalum freycinetianum
Santalum freycinetianum
Family: Santalaceae
Cultivation
A plant usually of moderate elevations in the tropics, usually found between 250 and 950 metres, but it can be found down to almost sea level and up to 3,800 metres. It grows naturally in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 500 - 3,800mm and there is a pronounced dry season of 2 - 5 months. Prefers a position with moderate side shade, but little overhead shade; it grows poorly in deeper shade, but can do well in full sun if attached to a suitable host.
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Santalum haleakalae
Santalum haleakalae
Family: Santalaceae
Cultivation
Santalum haleakalae is a plant of sub-alpine elevations in the Hawaiian Islands, where it is found at elevations from 1,800 - 2,700 metres. It is found in moderately wet to arid areas, often with a 2 - 5 month dry season, and where there can be frosts. Prefers a position with moderate side shade, but little overhead shade; it grows poorly in deeper shade, but can do well in full sun if attached to a suitable host.
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Santalum insulare marchionense
Santalum insulare marchionense
Family: Santalaceae
Cultivation
A semi-parasitic plant, obtaining some of its nutriment from the roots of other plants. The plant has green leaves containing chlorophyll, and is thus able to photosynthesize - it relies on host plants only for water and soil nutrients, not for sugars, which it can produce itself. In a natural situation, the plant seems to rely on nitrogen fixing trees such as Acacia and Casuarina, though it is known to parasitize many other legumes, shrubs, herbs and grasses.
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Santalum paniculatum
Santalum paniculatum
Family: Santalaceae
Cultivation
Santalum paniculatum is a plant of moderate elevations in the Hawaiian Islands, where it can be found at elevations from 450 - 2,500 metres. It is usually found in moderately dry to wet habitats in areas where there is a 2 - 5 month dry season and no frosts. Prefers a position with moderate side shade, but little overhead shade; it grows poorly in deeper shade, but can do well in full sun if attached to a suitable host.
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Santalum spicatum
Santalum spicatum
Family: Santalaceae
Cultivation
A plant of drier, lowland areas in the tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations from sea level to 500 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 32 - 38°c, but can tolerate 7 - 45°c. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -4°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at 0°c.
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Santalum yasi
Santalum yasi
Family: Santalaceae
Cultivation
The plant grows naturally in warm to hot lowland areas in the tropics at elevations up to 600 metres, but usually below 300 metres. It prefers a mean annual temperature in the range 23 - 29°c. It is found in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 1,250 - 1,750mm (though it can tolerate up to 2,500mm), and there is a distinct dry season of 3 - 5 months.
Full cultivation guide →