Cordia alliodora aka Salmwood

Cordia alliodora is a tropical tree in the borage family. It grows from Mexico through the tropics of the Americas. Its range also takes in islands in the Caribbean. People call it cypre, Ecuador laurel, and salmwood. It grows in both dry and wet forests. As a pioneer tree, it can take root on bare ground. The IUCN listed it as Least Concern in 2013.

Published heights range from 39 feet (12 metres) to 98 feet (30 metres). PFAF gives a spread of 66 feet (20 metres). The tree grows fast, with a straight trunk and compact crown. Useful Tropical Plants calls the crown narrow and dense. The tree sheds its lower branches as it grows. Much of the trunk can stay free of branches. It has smooth, pale bark. Small buttresses, or flared supports at the trunk base, sometimes form. Sources say it sheds all or some of its leaves. They class it as deciduous to semi-evergreen.

The tree bears many white flowers with a sweet scent. Bees, moths, and butterflies bring pollen to the flowers. Pollen from the same tree alone cannot lead to seeds. The small, oval fruits are about a quarter-inch long. People eat them, though PFAF says they lack much taste appeal. People also use the inner bark as a spice. PFAF lists no known hazards. This does not mean the tree is safe for pets.

Give this tree full sun and moist soil that drains well. It accepts sand, loam, and clay across a broad pH range. It grows better in rich soil than in worn-out ground. Soil that drains poorly slows its growth. It suits warm lowlands and prefers a mean temperature near 24°C. It grows best with high rainfall but accepts much drier sites. PFAF places it in USDA zones 10–12. It withstands strong wind, but not exposed sites by the coast.

Growers plant cypre for timber, shade, and its scented flowers. It shades coffee, cocoa, and pasture, and serves as a street tree. Its fast growth helps bring woods back to cleared land. It can also improve soil in mixed farm plantings. People use its wood for furniture, fuel, and charcoal. PFAF warns it could become a weed, so watch its spread. In folk medicine, people use leaves for chest and stomach problems. They also apply seed blends for skin problems. These uses do not prove that such treatments work or are safe.