Cedrela fissilis aka Argentine Cedar
Taxonomy ID: 21217
Cedrela fissilis, known as cedro or Argentine cedar, belongs to the mahogany family, Meliaceae. Its native range spans Trinidad, Central America and tropical South America. It grows beside streams and in upland rain forests. It occurs in both old forest and more open regrowth. Logging and forest loss have reduced its wild populations. Useful Tropical Plants cites an Endangered listing from 2011.
This fast-growing tree sheds its leaves and forms a dense, rounded crown. Garden figures give about 82 feet [25 metres] tall and 66 feet [20 metres] wide. Forest accounts give a broader height range of 66–164 feet [20–50 metres]. The trunk may branch near the ground or form a long, clear stem. Its base can develop buttresses. Mature trunks can reach about 3.3 feet [1 metre] across. The heartwood ranges from pale pink-grey to dark red-brown. A pale band of sapwood surrounds it.
Cedro suits warm sites at low to middle tropical elevations. It grows in full sun or some shade. Deep, moist, fertile soil with good drainage suits it well. It can grow in sand, loam or clay. It also accepts mildly acid through mildly alkaline soil. Sources note a preference for well-drained, chalky slopes. PFAF lists USDA zones 10–12 and warns that frost can harm it. Young trees can reach 10–13 feet [3–4 metres] within two years from seed.
Its size suits large gardens, street planting and park shade. Growers also use it to help restore native woodland. It tolerates the open, sunny sites found early in woodland recovery. Borers pose a concern, so sources advise against single-species stands. People harvest the tree for valued timber and local fuel. Its fragrant wood has a coarse texture and straight or somewhat interlocked grain.
Fresh, ripe seed offers a way to raise new trees. Sources recommend sowing it in partly shaded nursery beds or separate pots. Germination can be high, with shoots appearing after 12–18 days. Seedlings may be ready for planting out after two to four months. PFAF records no known food uses and no known hazards. That does not establish that all parts are safe to eat. Traditional remedies use the bark and wood for skin sores and other complaints. The bark can also cause vomiting. These records describe traditional uses, not proof of safe treatment.
Common names
Argentine Cedar, Cedro, Cedar, Brazilian CedarwoodMore information about Argentine Cedar
What size does Argentine Cedar grow to?
Cedrela fissilis is a fast-growing forest tree, typically reaching 20 to 50 metres in height in its native range, with a dense, roundish crown and a bole that often branches low but can form a clear columnar trunk 12 to 18 metres long and 50 to 100 centimetres in diameter under good conditions. Seedlings can reach 3 to 4 metres within two years from germination. It is decidedly not a candidate for indoor or small-garden cultivation.
How often should Argentine Cedar be watered?
The species favours deep, moist, fertile, well-drained soils and occurs naturally in tropical lowland to submontane forest where rainfall is reliable. Moderate, consistent moisture is required, and drought stress is not well tolerated, although the tree is dry-season deciduous and sheds its leaves during seasonally dry periods.
What soil is best for Argentine Cedar?
Cedrela fissilis prefers deep, moist, fertile, well-drained soils and is found in both dense primary forest and more open secondary forest from sea level up to roughly 1,650 metres elevation. Loamy, medium-textured soils that retain moisture without becoming waterlogged are ideal.
Can Argentine Cedar be grown outdoors?
This is a large tropical to subtropical forest tree of the Neotropics, requiring frost-free conditions and ample space. It thrives in tropical lowland to submontane sites in full sun or moderate shade with deep, moist, fertile soils. Outside its native climate range it is not commonly cultivated as an ornamental and is unsuitable for temperate gardens.
How do you propagate Argentine Cedar?
Propagation is by seed, sown fresh in partially shaded nursery beds.
Is Argentine Cedar edible?
No edible uses are recorded for Cedrela fissilis.
Does Argentine Cedar have medicinal uses?
The bark is traditionally used in Latin American folk medicine as an astringent and emetic; bark decoctions have been used to treat malaria, vomiting, diarrhoea, leucorrhoea, and ulcers, and wood decoctions to clean sores and treat orchitis. Modern phytochemical research has isolated limonoids and triterpenes from the plant that show trypanocidal (antiparasitic) activity in laboratory studies.
What are the other uses of Argentine Cedar?
Cedrela fissilis is one of the most commercially important timber trees of the Neotropics. Its high-quality, fragrant heartwood — often sold alongside Cedrela odorata as 'cedro' — is used for plywood, veneer, fine furniture, sculpture, naval and aircraft construction, railroad ties, canoes, pencils, and house lumber, and is a moderately good fuel. Beyond timber, the species shows promise for phytoremediation of copper-contaminated soils.
Sources
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