Libidibia coriaria
Libidibia coriaria
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
Divi-divi tolerates a wide range of climates, thriving in dry, warm temperate climates to wet tropical climates[1]. It can tolerate an annual precipitation ranging from as low as 600mm up to over 4,000mm, and a mean annual temperature in the range of 15 - 28°c[1]. Trees are reported to yield less under very moist tropical conditions than under drier conditions[1]. At higher altitudes they do not yield well either[1]. Succeeds in any moderately fertile, well-drained soil[2]. It grows on rich clay soils and poor sandy soils[1]. Succeeds with a pH in the range 4.5 - 8.7[1]. It requires a position in full sun[2]. The trees are relatively slow growing and generally commence flowering 5 - 7 years after sowing. Full crops of pods are produced after about 20 years[1]. The flowers are very attractive to bees[3]. Mature trees require very little care, and other crops can be planted between the trees[1]. The pods of divi-divi are collected before or after they drop from the tree. Trees yield about 45 - 135 kg pods per year[1]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[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[2].
Propagation
Seed - pre-soak in warm water for 12 - 24 hours prior to sowing[2]. Seedlings are kept in the nursery for 9 - 15 months, and then transplanted into the field, usually at the beginning of the rainy season[1]. Watering might be necessary in the dry season for the first two years[1]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-20. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Libidibia+coriaria>
Pollinators
Bees
References
- [1]Protabase - Plant Resources of Tropical Africa. — http://www.prota.org ↩︎An excellent on-line database with detailed information on over 3,200 species of useful plants of Africa.
- [2]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.
- [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]A Century of Trees of Panama. — Pittier H. Mell C.D. · http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org ↩︎A work that was very difficult to get published according to the correspondence contained at the start!. A treatment of 100 different species with descriptions and details of uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
- [5]Flora of Guatemala — Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark · 1946 - 1976 · http://www.archive.org/ ↩︎A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
- [6]Plant Resources of Southeast Asia — http://proseanet.org/ ↩︎Lots of information on the uses of the plants of SE Asia.