Leucaena leucocephala Seeds | Miracle Tree
LATIN NAME: Leucaena leucocephala
COMMON NAME: Leucaena
Plant Profile
Leucaena leucocephala, better known as Leucaena, is a tree, native to Mexico. Leucaena is a fast, feathery tree that has travelled warm world. Young leaves and pods have a long record of use as a fine, easy fodder, though plant carries a compound that needs care in feeding of the stock. It is a tree of open, sunny, well-drained ground. The flowering period doubles as a feeding season for bees and other pollinators. Plants that offer this much while asking this little are rare enough to treasure.
Science & Biotechnology
Botanists studying the Leucaena group regularly include Leucaena leucocephala in comparative work, and the species also appears in horticultural trials aimed at gardeners and growers. Leucaena sits firmly in studies of fast-growing, nitrogen-fixing trees of warm world, and tree has been looked at for delicate, bipinnate leaves and way it improves poor, dry ground. For practical purposes the message is encouraging: generations of cultivation have produced plants of predictable, well-mannered garden character.
Uses & Benefits
Leucaena brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. Leucaena earns its keep in poor, dry ground. Fast-growing, nitrogen-fixing tree improves tired soil and gives a fine, dependable fodder for stock, and small, creamy-white, ball-like flower heads and long, flat pods give it a fine, fresh look through warm season. Leaves carry well-known compound that needs care in feeding of stock, so young shoots and pods are best given in the moderation. Getting it going is easy; keeping it going is easier still.
Leucaena is the tropical protein tree, a fast forage, fuelwood and green-manure legume; its mimosine content requires managed feeding rates for livestock.
Growing from Seed
Seed is the natural starting point for Leucaena, and the process is uncomplicated. Surface-sow onto a light, well-drained compost, dust over a thin covering, and keep evenly moist and sunny until the seedlings show. Pot the young plants on as they grow, harden them off gradually, and plant them into their final positions when sturdy.
Our Take
Leucaena repays a little patience at sowing time with plenty of garden presence later.
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