Leucaena shannonii

Cultivation Details

Leucaena shannonii is a plant of the tropical lowlands growing in seasonally dry climates with a mean annual rainfall in the range 800 - 1,200mm and a 5 - 6 month dry season^[1]. Leucaena species generally require a sunny position. They are often found in the wild on poor, shallow and dry soils, usually overlying a calcareous rock. Most of them do not thrive on acid soils. Most species experience a long dry season and are more or less drought tolerant. Leucaena shannonii is a prolific and precocious seeder and shows weedy tendencies within its natural range, often spreading and colonizing ruderal sites such as roadsides or abandoned fields and sometimes forming dense thickets. The species is considered to pose some risk of becoming a ruderal weed in areas where it is introduced, although, as a colonizing species which thrives on disturbance, it is unlikely to invade pristine closed forest communities^[1]. A generally slow-growing species^[1]. The plant is moderately susceptible to damage by psyllids^[1]. 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^[2].