Chloroxylon swietenia

Cultivation Details

A plant of the lowland moist tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 450 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 30 - 40°c, but can tolerate 10 - 47°c^[1]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 1,500mm, but tolerates 750 - 1,900mm^[1]. Grows best in a sunny position^[1]. Succeeds in most soils that are well-drained^[1]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7, tolerating 5 - 7.8^[1]. Established plants are drought tolerant^[1]. The tree has shown good growth rates in Nigeria^[2]. It coppices well^[2]. The plant is susceptible to fire damage^[1]. In India the tree is an alternative food-plant for the caterpillars of Papilio demoleus, a pest of Citrus spp^[2].