Simarouba glauca aka Dysentery Bark

Simarouba glauca is also called paradise-tree. It belongs to the Simaroubaceae family. This tree stays green all year. It comes from southern Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America. It grows in woods, thickets, on rocky hills, and near streams. Garden trees reach 40–50 feet (12.2–15.2 metres) tall. Their crowns span 25–30 feet (7.6–9.1 metres). Other sources give crown widths of 49 feet (15 metres). Records list trees 89 feet (27 metres) tall. That is beyond their usual garden size.

Young trees grow upright, then gain round crowns with age. Most have one straight trunk, with branches that droop. The bark starts smooth and light brown or gray-brown. It grows rough with age. Thick brown twigs bear alternate leaves, spaced along each side. The leaves are pinnate, with 10–14 leaflets along one stalk. Each leaf reaches about 1.3 feet (0.4 metres) long. The leaflets feel firm and tough, like leather. Their top sides shine. New leaves start red or orange, then turn dark green. Their lower sides stay paler. They do not change color in fall.

Small yellow to cream flowers bloom from late winter through spring. They form branched groups called panicles. These grow at shoot tips and leaf joints. Bees pollinate the flowers. The tree cannot set seed with its own pollen. Oval, fleshy fruits called drupes ripen in early summer. They turn from green to dark purple and draw birds. People eat the pale flesh raw, but few praise its taste. Seeds yield edible oil for baked goods. Useful Tropical Plants lists no known hazards. This does not mean the tree is safe for pets.

Grow paradise-tree in full sun or part shade. It accepts sand, loam, and clay that drain well. It also grows in acid and alkaline soils. Sources call its growth rate moderate to fast. Rich soil with plenty of organic matter helps it grow faster. It prefers moist soil but has some drought tolerance. It stands up well to salt spray. It needs shelter from frost. Florida guidance places it in USDA zones 10b–11. Fresh seed sprouts with ease. Young plants cope well with moves.

The broad crown shades gardens, streets, and highway medians. Keep it away from paving that roots could damage. Fallen fruit and seeds make litter and can stain hard surfaces. Large roots at ground level make mowing beneath the crown hard. Prune to build strong limbs, as branches can break. Florida guidance lists no major pest or disease problems. People have long used the bark and leaves as folk medicine. Uses include fever, malaria, and dysentery. These are reported uses, not proven home treatments. Seed shells serve as fuel and as material for charcoal.