Bulnesia arborea

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Vera Wood is an evergreen canopy tree cultivated for its buttery-yellow flowers and valuable hard and heavy timber. Introduced from Venezuela to South Florida by Dr. David Fairchild.

The legend goes that Chief Lignum Vitae had a daughter named Vera, which means Faithful or True. She lived along the Caribbean coast in what is now Colombia and Venezuela. Vera loved the outdoors and spent most of her time laughing and singing in the forests. Men who heard her singing fell in love with her, and came searching for. She hid in the forest, but they found her and pleaded with her to at least sing for them, even if she wouldn't consider marrying them. She obliged them by singing beautifully, and continues to sing right to this day.

Verawood typically gets to 40 feet or so, and makes a nice canopy tree. Drought tolerant once established. Needs good drainage, tolerates poor soils.