Xanthostemon verus

Xanthostemon verus is an evergreen tree in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. It has the common name iron wood. Its native range runs from Sulawesi to Maluku in Indonesia. It grows in rainforest within the wet tropics. Useful Tropical Plants records it as a wild tree. The sources give little detail about its use in gardens.

Plants For A Future gives a height of 33 feet [10 metres]. It lists the same width, 33 feet [10 metres]. That source describes its growth rate as moderate. Useful Tropical Plants calls it a large tree but gives no usable height. The foliage stays green throughout the year. The supplied accounts do not describe leaf shape, bark, or branching. They also give no details about flowers, fruit, or bloom season. These gaps limit any account of its looks or seasonal interest.

Plants For A Future places this tree in USDA zones 10–12. It also lists UK zone 10. Its growing notes call for sun rather than shade. The soil should stay moist but allow water to drain. The listed soil choices span sand, loam, and clay. The listed pH range runs from mildly acid to mildly alkaline. These notes suggest broad soil tolerance, not tolerance of dry ground. Both plant-use sources say that cultivation details remain unknown. Seed is the listed means of propagation, without further growing instructions.

The wood provides the main recorded use for this species. It has a deep brown colour with red tones. It is dense, heavy, and hard to cut or shape. It withstands weather and contact with soil and water. The sources also report resistance to marine borers. Uses include ship rudders, anchor parts, bridges, and house building. Yet its hardness limits its value for routine building work. The accounts thus describe both useful strength and a major working drawback. They do not establish a specific role for it in garden design.

Neither plant-use source records food uses or medicinal uses. Both report no known hazards, but this does not prove safety. The evidence does not establish whether people or pets can eat it safely. No source supplied here names pests or diseases affecting this tree. Nor do the accounts give tested methods for managing such problems.