trefle.io · Taken Apr 22, 2022 by Giacomo Sellan (cc-by-sa)
Sapotaceae
Bulletwood
Manilkara bidentata
Also known as massaranduba, bulletree, manikara, Mimusops bidentata
Tropical Plants · Edibles & Herbs · Flowering Plants · Native Plants · Trees & Shrubs · Bulletwood · Balata · Tropical Tree · Hardwood · Sapotaceae · Rainforest · Edible Fruit · Specimen Tree · Caribbean · Slow Growing
Bulletwood is a large, slow-growing tropical rainforest tree prized for its exceptionally hard, durable timber and edible fruit (balata). It requires a warm, frost-free tropical or subtropical climate, rich well-draining soil, and consistent moisture to thrive. Best suited to large outdoor spaces in USDA zones 10-12, it demands patience but ultimately becomes an impressive, long-lived specimen tree.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- Water thoroughly, keeping soil consistently moist but ensuring good drainage to prevent root rot · Every 7-10 days
- Maintenance
- High
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 4.6–5.8
- Temperature
- 50°F to 95°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed
Hardiness
USDA 10a-12b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 10 ft – 30 ft
- Spread
- 15 ft
- Spacing
- 240 in apart
- Growth rate
- Slow
- Root depth
- Shallow
- Flowers
- White
- Foliage
- Green · Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Bolivia, Brazil North, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Leeward Is., Panamá, Peru, Puerto Rico, Suriname, Trinidad-Tobago, Venezuela, Windward Is.
- Attracts
- Bees, Birds
Sources: trefle
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