Aspidosperma polyneuron aka Red Peroba

Aspidosperma polyneuron also goes by the name peroba rosa. It belongs to the Apocynaceae family. This tree stays green all year. It comes from the tropics of South America. Its range reaches south to Misiones in Argentina. It also grows in Brazil, Paraguay, Peru, and Colombia. It lives in moist forests on low ground and lower mountain slopes. Some stands make up much of the understory in Araucaria forest. This is the layer beneath the taller trees. Its home climate is wet and tropical.

Garden sources give a height near 49 feet [15 metres]. They list a spread near 33 feet [10 metres]. Broader accounts give heights of 26–98 feet [8–30 metres]. The crown has an oblong shape above a straight trunk. The trunk can reach about 3 feet [0.9 metres] across. Thick bark covers it, with deep cracks in its surface. The tree keeps its leaves all year. Insects carry pollen between its flowers.

Peroba rosa grows at a slow pace and prefers some shade. It can also grow in full sun. Give it deep, rich soil that drains well but stays moist. It accepts sand, loam, and clay soils. Soil pH can range from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. PFAF lists USDA zones 10–12 for growth outdoors. Trial trees reached 15–26 feet [4.7–7.8 metres] after 12–13 years. Allow for this slow growth when planning grounds around young trees.

Growers raise it from seed for planting and landscape use. Sow fresh, ripe seed in a nursery bed with some shade. You can also sow it in containers with some shade. Reports say more than 70 percent of seeds sprout. Sprouts appear within 10–20 days. Young plants then grow at a slow pace. Stored seed can stay viable for at least six months. People grow the tree for its looks and its timber. Logging and forest loss have reduced many wild groups. Useful Tropical Plants cites an IUCN review from 2011. That review lists the species as endangered.

Its hard, heavy wood has many uses in buildings and furniture. Heartwood ranges from rose-red through orange to yellowish shades. It may have dark streaks beside pale grey-white sapwood. The wood lasts well if kept dry and takes finishes well. Builders use it for floors, joinery, veneers, and ship decks. PFAF lists no known edible uses for this tree. It records use of the bark to treat fever. It also records astringent use, which means tightening body tissues. These records describe uses, not proof that treatment is safe.