Leucaena pallida

Cultivation Details

Leucaena pallida is a plant of moderate to higher regions in the tropics, where it is found at elevations from 1,100 - 2,300 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 16 - 24°c, but can tolerate 12 - 30°c^[1]. It experiences occasional light frosts in parts of its range, being able to tolerate occasional, short-lived lows down to perhaps -8°c^[2]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 700 - 1,800mm, but tolerates 500 - 2,000mm^[1]. It grows in areas with a 5 - 7 month dry season^[1]. Grows best in a sunny position^[1]. Prefers a well-drained, fertile soil of light or medium texture^[1]. Found in the wild mainly in shallow, calcareous soils^[2]. Tolerates a moderate level of salt in the soil^[1]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5, tolerating 4.5 - 8.5^[1]. 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^[2]. The tree responds well to coppicing^[3]. The plant has moderate to high resistance to psyllid damage^[2]. 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^[3].