Introduction

This upright, bushy, medium- to coarse-textured evergreen tree is densely foliated with 4-inch long, leathery leaves. Although able to reach 50-feet in height in the forest, Santa Maria tends to be a slow-growing, moderately sized tree about 30- to 40-feet tall with a 40- to 50-foot spread. It is well suited for planting beneath power lines 40-feet high. Small, white, fragrant flowers appear on 1- to 2-inch long racemes among the 4- to 6-inch long, glossy leaves. Well suited as a street, parking lot, patio or small shade tree, especially for coastal areas, Santa Maria can also be used as a screen, and can be maintained as a shrub. The stems bleed a yellow latex when injured, and the wood of the Santa Maria tree is valuable for ship building and cabinet work. The bark is almost black and is longitudinally furrowed and quite attractive.

General Information

Scientific name: Calophyllum brasiliense

Pronunciation: kal-oh-FILL-um bruh-sill-ee-EN-see

Common name(s): Santa Maria

Family: Clusiaceae

USDA hardiness zones: 10B through 11 (Fig. 2)

Origin: not native to North America

Invasive potential: little invasive potential

Uses: sidewalk cutout (tree pit); reclamation; specimen; street without sidewalk; deck or patio; screen; shade; hedge; espalier; parking lot island 100–200 sq. ft.; parking lot island > 200 sq. ft.; tree lawn 4–6 feet wide; tree lawn > 6 ft. wide; urban tolerant; highway median; container or planter

Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the tree

Description

Height: 30 to 40 feet

Spread: 40 to 50 feet

Crown uniformity: irregular

Crown shape: oval, round, pyramidal

Crown density: dense

Growth rate: moderate

Texture: coarse

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite (Fig. 3)

Leaf type: simple

Leaf margin: entire

Leaf shape: oblong, elliptic (oval)

Leaf venation: pinnate

Leaf type and persistence: evergreen, broadleaf evergreen

Leaf blade length: 2 to 4 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: no color change

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: white/cream/gray

Flower characteristics: showy

Fruit

Fruit shape: round

Fruit length: 1 to 3 inches

Fruit covering: dry or hard

Fruit color: green

Fruit characteristics: does not attract wildlife; showy; fruit/leaves a litter problem

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: branches droop; showy; typically one trunk; thorns

Pruning requirement: little required

Breakage: resistant

Current year twig color: green

Current year twig thickness: thick

Wood specific gravity: unknown

Culture

Light requirement: full sun, partial sun or partial shade

Soil tolerances: clay; sand; loam; alkaline; acidic; well-drained

Drought tolerance: high

Aerosol salt tolerance: high

Other

Roots: not a problem

Winter interest: no

Outstanding tree: yes

Ozone sensitivity: unknown

Verticillium wilt susceptibility: unknown

Pest resistance: free of serious pests and diseases

Use and Management

Santa Maria should be planted in full sun or partial shade on well-drained soil. It has good salt-tolerance and is often seen along the beach. Grows well in confined soil spaces, such as along a street, and the tree should be propagated, sold, and planted in urban areas much more often. Remember that the golfball-sized fruit is poisonous and hard, and this could be undesirable in the landscape under some circumstances. The trunk grows to about two feet in diameter.

Propagation is by seeds or cuttings.

Pests and Diseases

No pests or diseases are of major concern.