Leucaena leucocephala
White leadtree · also White popinac, Horse tamarind, Ipil-ipil
Report an issue with this species
Leucaena leucocephala is a small, fast-growing mimosoid tree known for its feathery canopy of delicate, compound leaves. Native to Southern Mexico and Central America, it is now widely naturalized throughout the tropics, thriving in various soil conditions and producing abundant seeds year-round. While valued for fodder and other uses, it is considered weedy and can outcompete native vegetation, making it an invasive species risk in some areas.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 2510.02%——
- 840.02%—4.3 in
- 320.02%—2.1 in
- 20.01%—7.0 in
- 10.00%——
No city in this list records planting dates for this species, so age is blank throughout.
Traits
- Form
- Broadleaf
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Mature height
- 10–25 ft
- Canopy spread
- 20 ft
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Water needs
- Moderate
- Wildlife value
- Moderate
- Blooms
- Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec
Trunk diameters across every city: median 3.9 in, mean 5.5 in, 90th percentile 12 in. Measured at breast height, as published by each inventory.
Native range
Terrestrial ecoregions where this species is native. Trees in the dataset mostly stand well outside it.
Tropical & Subtropical Dry Broadleaf Forests
- Central American dry forests
- Islas Revillagigedo dry forests
- Southern Pacific dry forests
Tropical & Subtropical Moist Broadleaf Forests
- Central American montane forests
Tropical & Subtropical Coniferous Forests
- Central American pine-oak forests
Other Leucaena in the catalogue
2 of the top 2,000 species are in this genus.
