TABEBUIA ROSEA: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, PESTS AND USES - BIOLOGY - 2025

Tabebuia rosea is an arboreal species belonging to the Bignoniaceae family native to the Mesoamerican tropical region. It is a tree that can reach 15-30 m in height and up to 80-90 cm in diameter on the straight stem.

It is located from Mexico to Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador in dry and humid tropical forest ecosystems at less than 1,200 meters above sea level. It grows in a variety of soils and adapts to climatic conditions with average annual rainfall between 1,500-2,500 mm.

Tabebuia rosea. Source: Alejandro Bayer Tamayo from Armenia, Colombia

It is a deciduous species characterized by its leaves composed of five elliptical-oblong leaflets with smooth edges and webbed arrangement. During the months of February and April it presents abundant and showy flowering, after having lost the leaves; it is a melliferous plant.

The fruits reach maturity between April and May, are 30-40 cm long and open longitudinally, dispersing numerous winged seeds. Reproduction takes place through seeds; the plant requires hot and humid climates, fertile soils and does not tolerate low temperatures.

Leaves and flowers of Tabebuia rosea. Forest & Kim Starr

The apamate is a species of high ornamental value due to the beauty of its flowers, which is why it is sown in parks, squares and avenues. In addition, the wood is used in construction, carpentry and joinery; the leaves and bark have medicinal properties.

General characteristics

Morphology

Sowing

Sowing is done by means of viable seeds that are collected directly from the fruits that fall spontaneously. The seeds are extracted manually and can be stored in ambient conditions for 6 months or refrigerated for up to two years.

Apamate seeds. Source: @rawjeev / Rawlife / Rajeev B

The seeds do not require special treatments, they are only kept soaking from the day before sowing. Germination occurs after 6-12 days, reaching a germination percentage between 70-90%

The sowing is carried out in germinators to later be re-seeded in polyethylene bags or beds where the pseudo-stakes develop. In fact, the time in the nursery lasts 4-5 months, when the seedling reaches a height of 25-40 cm.

Pseudo-cuttings planted at the final site show rapid initial growth, which stops to start branching. In the initial stage the plant reaches 2-3 m in height and 6-10 cm in diameter during the first year.

Apamate has a growth pattern called reiteration, which consists of rapid vertical growth that ends in a bifurcation and subsequent branching. After a certain time the branches stop their growth, emit a new vertical axis and finally repeat the bifurcation.

Maintenance pruning is required when the plant has formed three floors (4-5 years). Pruning in the early stages of growth tends to produce deformed trees that lose the rate of production of vertical axes, causing the plant to become unbalanced.

Applications

Agroforestry

- Apamate is used in silvopastoral systems and as a shade crop in coffee and cocoa plantations.

- It is used as an ornamental tree in parks, gardens and home gardens due to the showiness of its foliage when it blooms.

- Trees of this species are used for beekeeping and arboriculture projects.

Trunk. Source: Photo by David J. Stang

Industrial

- Excellent quality wood is used in general construction, floors, parquet, columns, ceilings, veneers, cabinets and rural construction.

- In cabinetmaking it is used in the manufacture of furniture, tool handles, sporting goods, butts, oars, musical instruments and agricultural implements.

- It is a source of fuel, firewood and charcoal.

Medicinal

- The decoction of the bark has antiviral, antifungal and anticancer properties.

- The leaves are used to reduce warts and cure ophthalmic accidents, soothe diarrhea, dysentery and pharyngitis.

Reforestation

- This species has a high potential for reforestation and soil recovery.

- The leaves cover the soil surface forming a protective layer that allows to control the erosion caused by rain and wind.

- It favors the biodiversity and conservation of the wild fauna.

References

1. Apamate, Roble (Tabebuia rosea) (2018) ITTO MIS (Market Information Service). Recovered at: tropicaltimber.info
2. Herrera-Canto, Esther E. (2015) Tabebuia rosea (Bertol) DC., A pink tree and its traditional uses. Yucatan Scientific Research Center, AC (CICY). CICY Herbarium 7: 52–54.
3. Sánchez de Lorenzo-Cáceres José Manuel (2011) Tabebuia rosea (Bertol.) DC. Ornamental Trees. Informative file.
4. Tabebuia rosea (2019) Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: wikipedia.org
5. Tabebuia rosea (Bertol.) DC. (2015) IUCN - ORMACC. Species for Restoration. Recovered in: speciesrestauracion-uicn.org
6. Vit Patricia (2004) Tabebuia rosea (Bertol.) DC. Botanical file of beekeeping interest in Venezuela, No. 7, Apamate. Journal of the Faculty of Pharmacy Vol. 46 (1). University of Los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela.