Alangium salviifolium

Native to tropical Asia, Alangium salviifolium is a small tree that grows to a modest height of 10 to 20 feet tall. The leaves are rough on top and smooth underneath. They have a mildly pleasing scent when crushed. This tree blooms in late spring and early summer with small, off-white or white flowers.

The Alangium salviifolium is an easy to grow in the right conditions. It thrives in full sun and warm temperatures. It prefers moist soil and regular watering, but it can tolerate some dryness. The plant is hardy to USDA zone 9-11.

When grown in pots in colder regions, the Alangium salviifolium will need to be taken indoors to protect it from extreme temperatures of winter. It is best to place the pot in a bright area and make sure to water regularly. The soil mix should be well draining and kept moist during the growing season. Fertilize occasionally with a balanced fertilizer to keep the plant healthy.

Alangium salviifolium is incredibly versatile and can be used in a variety of ways. It can be used as a specimen plant in small gardens, for landscaping in special areas, as a hedge or border, or even in planters. It also has ethnomedical uses, making it a great addition to your herb garden.

Albizia julibrissin

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

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This tree has attractive fragrant pom-pom- like flowers, and interesting fern-like foliage. In gardens this fast growing tree grows to 20-30 ft. It has a single trunk with smooth, gray bark. Each bi-pinnate leaf is made up of hundreds of tiny leaflets coated in white hairs, giving the foliage a silvery cast. In late winter or spring, the domed crown is decked in sprays of small, globular, off-white to baby-pink flower heads. Prefers a rich, light, well drained soil. The flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, and birds.

Albizia lebbeck, Mimosa lebbeck

Albizia lebbeck, Mimosa lebbeck is a fast-growing tree, that is susceptible to wind damage. A moderate to large, deciduous tree can grow up to 100 feet high in rain forests. The tree develops a straight trunk when it is grown in dense forests, but is spreading and low branching in the open. Unless trimmed frequently, the trees will annually produce an abundance of seed from papery pods about 8" long and 1" wide (author). Common names such as "woman's tongue" and "rattle pod" derive from the noise of pods shaking in the wind. The foliage is pale green when young and gray-green at maturity. Flowers are cream colored, hemispheric pom-poms. Seeds germinate well without scarification.

The tree is used as a folk remedy for many ailments. Another common use is as an avenue tree, and sometimes it is used to shade coffee and tea. Saponins and tannins in the bark can be used for making soap and in tanning, respectively. Bee keepers like the species for the light-colored honey its nectar provides, and the tree hosts the lac insect.

Albizia sp.

Albizia is a genus of about 150 species of mostly fast-growing subtropical and tropical trees and shrubs. The genus is pantropical, occurring in Asia, Africa, Madagascar, America and Australia, but mostly in the Old World tropics.

Species:

Albizia julibrissin

Albizia lebbeck

Albizia saman

Aleurites moluccana, Aleurites triloba, Croton moluccanus

Kukui Nut is a medium to large sized tree with widespreading or pendulous branches. Young leaves are large, up to 12" long. Palmate, shiny leaves on mature trees are ovate, entire, and acuminate. There is a whitish substance above them when young, that becomes green with age, with rusty stellate pubescence beneath when young, and perisiting on veins. Small flowers in rusty-pubescent panicled cymes, dingy white or creamy. Fruit an indehiscent drupe, roundish, 2" or more in diameter. Bears two heavy crops each year, harvested when mature.

The kukui nut has many uses. Originally it was most valued for its light, the oil of the white kernels being extracted for its use in stone lamps and in ti leaf sheath torches. The tree is sometimes called the Candlenut Tree. The nuts are widely used as a traditional lei, both the hard shells of the polished black, tan or brown, and immature white, which are more rare. The Kukui Nut lei were worn by royalty back in the days of the Hawaiian monarchy (Alii). The kukui nut leis are finished and polished and will last for years. The bark, flowers and nuts are all used for medicine. As food, a small amount of the pounded roasted nuts, plus salt and sometimes chili peppers, is used as a relish and is called inamona. Pure Kukui Nut Oil has been used by Hawaiians for centuries to protect and heal skin exposed to harsh sun, drying winds, and salt water. Kukui Nut Oil penetrates the skin well and is said to be excellent in treating many skin conditions including psoriasis, eczema, aging skin, and acne. Bark used on tumors in Japan. The oil is purgative and sometimes used like castor oil. Kernels are laxative stimulant, and sudorific. The irritant oil is rubbed on scalp as a hair stimulant. In Malaya, the pulped kernel enters poultices for headache, fevers, ulcers, and swollen joints. In Java, the bark is used for bloody diarrhea or dysentery. Bark juice with coconut milk is used for sprue. Malayans apply boiled leaves to the temples for headache.