OTHER COMMON NAMES: Guanacaste, Caro Caro, Devil's Ear, Earpod Tree, Parota, Orejón, Huanacaxtle, Conacaste
DIMENSIONS & CHARACTERISTICS: The Elephant-Ear Tree grown from 80 to 115 feet tall, and has a trunk about ten feet in diameter. It has light grey bark, with visible maroon fissures running the length of the tree. The leaves are six to fifteen inches in length, and about seven inches in length. The tree sheds all of it's foliage by December, but is full of greenery by the time April rolls around. Although flowering is from February to April, there is no fruiting until December. The fruits are disk shaped, and are two to five inches in diameter, and are dark brown. The seed pods are long, narrow, and flattened, and contain eight to twenty seeds.
USES: The Elephant-Ear Tree, in addition to being highly valued for it's ornamental purposes and qualities, is also grown to provide shade for cattle and on coffee plantations. The wood, due to being water-resistant and lightweight, it used for shipbuilding, cabinets, doors, furniture, and windows. While unripe, it is common for the seeds to be boiled and eaten in Mexico, and the seeds are also used to make jewelry.
FACTS: Because Elephant-Ear Tree seedlings have close to a 100% germination rate, and can reach three feet in their first year of growth, they are considered being used in rainforest regrowth and development projects. However, because they grow so fast, they are considered by some to be an invasive species.
DIMENSIONS & CHARACTERISTICS: The Elephant-Ear Tree grown from 80 to 115 feet tall, and has a trunk about ten feet in diameter. It has light grey bark, with visible maroon fissures running the length of the tree. The leaves are six to fifteen inches in length, and about seven inches in length. The tree sheds all of it's foliage by December, but is full of greenery by the time April rolls around. Although flowering is from February to April, there is no fruiting until December. The fruits are disk shaped, and are two to five inches in diameter, and are dark brown. The seed pods are long, narrow, and flattened, and contain eight to twenty seeds.
USES: The Elephant-Ear Tree, in addition to being highly valued for it's ornamental purposes and qualities, is also grown to provide shade for cattle and on coffee plantations. The wood, due to being water-resistant and lightweight, it used for shipbuilding, cabinets, doors, furniture, and windows. While unripe, it is common for the seeds to be boiled and eaten in Mexico, and the seeds are also used to make jewelry.
FACTS: Because Elephant-Ear Tree seedlings have close to a 100% germination rate, and can reach three feet in their first year of growth, they are considered being used in rainforest regrowth and development projects. However, because they grow so fast, they are considered by some to be an invasive species.