Tamanu

The Tamanu tree (Calophyllum inophyllum) is a tough and beautiful evergreen from the tropics, valued for its glossy leaves, fragrant white flowers, and round green fruit. It is long-lived, wind hardy, and makes a striking shade tree with smooth grey bark and spreading branches. Known for its usefulness in coastal areas, it tolerates salt spray and sandy soils, making it a strong choice for Perth and WA conditions.

Features

• Ideal prune height: 4–6 m
• pH range: 5.5–7.5
• Sun preference: full sun
• Minimum pot size year 5: 45 L
• Time to fruit: 5–7 years
• Harvest period: summer to autumn
• Notable traits: wind and salt tolerant, fragrant flowers, long-lived

Wide range of traditional and modern uses:

• Shade and ornamental – dense, glossy canopy and fragrant flowers make it a popular avenue and coastal planting tree.
• Coastal protection – roots stabilise sandy soils, tree withstands salt and wind, good for erosion control.
• Timber – hard, durable wood used for boats, flooring, and carving.
• Oil – kernels produce tamanu oil, historically used in Polynesia for skin care and as a wood treatment.
• Wildlife – flowers attract pollinators, fruit feed birds and bats.
• Oil from the seeds can be processed into biodiesel. Its high oil content (40–75% in the kernels) makes it a potential feedstock. Several Pacific and Asian countries have trialled it for small-scale biodiesel production. The oil is thick and dark, so it usually needs refining or blending.
• Its nuts make tamanu oil, used for healing skin, scars, acne, and sunburn. It’s anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and great for dry skin.
• Its sap and fruit are toxic and were once used as rat poison and to stun fish..

Small trees are not frost hardy. Tamanu thrives in full sun with regular water when young but becomes drought and wind tolerant once established. It is well suited for coastal plantings, shade, and ornamental use. Mulch well and prune for shape in early years to keep at a manageable height.

The tamanu tree is both ornamental and practical, a strong addition for anyone wanting a rare, hardy tropical tree in their garden. Limited stock available.

Keywords: Tamanu tree, Calophyllum inophyllum, coastal tree Perth, rare tropical tree, shade tree WA