Anacardiaceae FAMILY

Astronium balansae

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Cultivation Details

HabitDeciduous Tree

Growth—

Found mainly at lower elevations in the subtropical areas of northern Argentina, southern Brazil and Paraguay, though there is one report of it growing outside its native range in Lima, Peru, which is about 12° south, at an elevation of 240 metres^[PFAF]. Grows best in a sunny position^[1]. Prefers a well-drained, sandy soil^[2]. Established plants are drought tolerant^[1].

Propagation

Seed - it needs to be sown in a nursery seedbed as soon as it is ripe. Germination takes 6 - 32 days and the young plants will be ready for planting out 9 - 10 months later^[1]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-19. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Astronium+balansae>

Pollinators

Data unavailable

References

[1]Brazilian Trees. Volume 3. — Lorenzi. H. · Instituto Plantarum De Estudos Da Flora; Brazil. · 2009 · ISBN 85-86714-34-4 ↩︎Information on 350 species of Brazilian trees. Stunning photographs of each species, brief details on the plant, its uses and how to grow it from seed. A superb work, with the minor irritation that the translation from Portuguese is not of the best.
[2]South American Timbers: the Properties, Uses and Characteristics of 190 Species. — Bolza. E. & Christensen. F.J. · Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization · 1979 · ISBN 0 643 02582 0 ↩︎A very useful guide.
[PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎