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Leucaena leucocephala
Fabaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Leucaena leucocephala

Leucaena leucocephala

Edibility
4/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & Hazards

The leaves of most forms of this plant contain the unusual amino acid mimosene[1]. In large quantities this can be harmful[1]. There are low-mimosene cultivars[1].

Cultivation Details

HabitEvergreen Tree
GrowthFast

Leucaena leucocephala is a plant of the tropics, it succeeds at altitudes up to 1,500 metres, occasionally to as high as 2,100 metres[2]. It grows best with a mean annual temperature in the range 25 - 30°c and a mean annual rainfall of 650 - 3,000mm[2]. For optimal growth it is limited to areas 15 - 25° north or south of the equator[2]. It grows well only in subhumid or humid climates with moderate dry seasons of up to 6 - 7 months[2]. Prefers a well-drained soil in full sun[3]. Tolerant of a range of soils, including limestone, wet and dry soils, soils of volcanic origin and those with moderate levels of salt[4, 2]. It is found in the wild on shallow limestone soils and coastal sand[5]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7.7, tolerating 5 - 8.5[6]. Plants are very tolerant of drought and of salt-laden winds[3]. This species is an aggressive colonizer of ruderal sites and secondary or disturbed vegetation[2]. This has been attributed to its precocious year-round flowering and fruiting, abundant seed production, self-fertility, hard seed coat, and ability to resprout after fire or cutting. It is now naturalized and weedy in many areas such as open (often coastal) habitats, semi-natural, disturbed, degraded habitats, other ruderal sites, and occasionally, agricultural land where it has been planted as a shade tree over cacao[2]. A fast-growing and early maturing species, it can commence producing seed in its first year of growth[5]. Plants are deep-rooted[2]. The unripe seedpods are harvested by climbing the trees and lopping the terminal branches or groups of pods, often crudely, with machetes, small knives or cutting poles. Annual pollarding in this way apparently causes only limited damage to the trees which resprout and fruit annually[5]. Plants respond well to coppicing, soon producing dense regrowth[4]. Tolerates fast fires and can regrow after being burned to the crown by slower fires[2]. The plant is highly susceptible to damge by Psyllids[5]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[4].

Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 24 hours in warm water then sow in containers[4]. Seedlings and direct sowing are recommended methods of propagation where soil-moisture conditions permit and economic weed control can be maintained. Seed pre-treatment involves soaking in hot water for 2 minutes or nicking the seed coat at the distal (cotyledon) end, using a sharp tool like scalpel, knife or nail clipper. A germination rate of 50-80% in 8 days can be achieved[2]. Cuttings of semi-ripe wood. Vegetative propagation has been successful in relatively few locations, reflecting critical environmental requirements, or possibly systemic fungi. The use of bare-root cuttings has worked in Indonesia, Taiwan and Thailand[2]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Leucaena+leucocephala>

Pollinators

Insects, Self

References

  1. [1]Cornucopia II — Facciola. S. · Kampong Publications, California. · 1998 · ISBN 0-9628087-2-5 ↩︎The second edition of an excellent guide to the edible uses of plants, though it does not give any details of cultivation etc.
  2. [2]World Agroforesty Centre — http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ ↩︎An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc.
  3. [3]Tropical and Subtropical Trees - A Worldwide Encyclopaedic Guide. — Barwick. M. · Thames & Hudson, London · 2004 · ISBN 0-500-51181-0 ↩︎A superb book, very concise and well written, giving a wealth of information on 400 or more species including descriptions, habitat, cultivation details and plant uses. A wealth of colour photographs bring each plant vividly to life.
  4. [4]The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. — Huxley. A. · MacMillan Press · 1992 · ISBN 0-333-47494-5 ↩︎Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
  5. [5]Leucaena A Genetic Resources Handbook — Hughes C.E. · Oxford Forestry Institute; Oxford, UK · 1998 · https://herbaria.plants.ox.ac.uk/bol/leucaena/ · ISBN 0 85074 145 9 ↩︎An excellent guide to the genus, giving detailed information on the various species
  6. [6]Ecocrop — http://ecocrop.fao.org/ecocrop/srv/en/home ↩︎Basic information on a wide range of useful plants, plus details of environmental needs where available.
  7. [7]Digital Compendium of Forestry Species of Cambodia — www.digitalspecies.blogspot.com; Phnom Penh · 2008 · http://www.digitalspecies.blogspot.com ↩︎A very detailed booklet, produced in PDF format on the internet, giving information on around 100 species of trees.
  8. [8]IUCN Red List of Threatened Species — http://www.iucnredlist.org/ ↩︎A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
  9. [9]Plants and People of Nepal — Manandhar. N. P. · Timber Press. Oregon. · 2002 · ISBN 0-88192-527-6 ↩︎Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses.
  10. [10]Ethnobotanical Studies of Useful Trees of District Kotli, Azad Jammu and Kashmir — Muhammad Ajaib & Zaheer-Ud-Din Khan · 2014 · ISBN 2313-206X ↩︎
  11. [11]Medicinal Plants in Vietnam — Nguyen Van Dan & Doan Thi Nhu · World Health Organisation · 1989 · ISBN 92 9061 101 4 ↩︎An excellent book, giving information on over 200 plants, their medicinal compounds and applications.