Phytolacca dioica
Ombú · also Umbu, Elephant tree, Bella sombra tree
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Phytolacca dioica, also known as ombú, is a massive evergreen tree native to the Pampas of South America. It develops an umbrella-like canopy and soft, spongy wood, making it fast-growing and adaptable to bonsai. The tree is notable for its poisonous sap, which deters grazing animals and pests, and it is also highly tolerant of drought and fire, making it a suitable shade tree for urban environments despite being considered an invasive species in some regions.
Where it grows
Trees in each city's inventory, with the share of that city's named trees this species accounts for.
- 2102.6%——
- 830.02%—15 in
- 80.00%——
- 20.00%—19 in
No city in this list records planting dates for this species, so age is blank throughout.
Traits
- Form
- Spreading
- Foliage
- Evergreen
- Mature height
- 40–60 ft
- Canopy spread
- 40–50 ft
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Water needs
- Moderate
- Drought tolerance
- High
- Wildlife value
- Moderate
- Fire risk
- Low
- Blooms
- Mar, Apr, May
Trunk diameters across every city: median 15 in, mean 21 in, 90th percentile 45 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 Moist Broadleaf Forests
- Northwest Andean montane forests