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Simarouba glauca, Paradise-Tree

Paradise Tree grows in full sun or partial shade on almost any well-drained soil. It will grow quickly on rich soils high in organic matter and should be protected from frost. When the canopy fills with fine-textured yellow flowers the tree is a joy to behold. I often wonder why more people do not know about this truly remarkable Florida native tree. Not only are the flowers outstanding, but the compound foliage glistens in the sun with shiny upper surfaces. Once established, little care is needed other than pruning outlined below.

Trees in their native forest habitat typically have one leader or trunk for several dozen feet, then trunks divide into several codominant stems toward the top of the tree. Unless properly pruned, trees in more open landscapes develop several codominant stems fairly close to the ground.

This plant is often grown as a multi-trunk tree, but weak, included bark often develops where stems join and where some main branches join with trunk. Though this usually is fine on trees not capable of growing to a large size, it could lead to the stems or branches splitting from the tree in storms. Trees trained with a dominant trunk may last longer.

Occurs from Ft. Pierce along the coast to Key West

National champion is 63 x 59 feet in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.