Tectona grandis
Own a piece of botanical royalty. The Tectona grandis, or Teak Tree, is more than just a plant—it's a long-term investment in beauty and value. Famed for producing the world's most sought-after timber, this young sapling gives you the chance to cultivate your very own source of this incredible wood. Perfect for large gardens in warm climates, the Teak tree grows into a majestic specimen, offering ample shade and a powerful statement. Its legendary durability is a testament to nature's genius. Start your legacy project today and watch this remarkable tree grow.
1. Basic Identification
Common Name: Teak Tree
Botanical Name: Tectona grandis
Former Name: Not applicable
Plant Type: Large deciduous tree
Plant Code / SKU: PLT-1713
Alternative Names:
Common Teak
Indian Teak
Burmese Teak
تكي (Arabic)
2. Taxonomy & Classification
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Tectona
3. Origin & Distribution
Native Range: South and Southeast Asia, including India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Indonesia.
Distribution: Widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions across Africa, Asia, and Latin America for its valuable timber.
4. Visual Characteristics
Leaves: Very large, ovate to elliptic, measuring 15-45 cm (6-18 inches) long. The upper surface is rough to the touch, and the underside is covered in dense, soft hairs.
Flowers: Small, fragrant, whitish to bluish flowers that bloom in large, upright clusters (panicles) at the end of branches during the wet season.
Stem/Trunk: A tall, straight trunk with grey to greyish-brown bark that is fibrous and peels off in longitudinal strips.
Fruit: A fleshy, four-lobed drupe (fruit) that is enclosed in a light brown, papery, bladder-like calyx.
5. Size & Dimensions
Height: Typically grows up to 40 meters (130 feet) tall in its natural habitat.
Spread/Width: The canopy can spread 10-15 meters (30-50 feet) wide, creating a broad, rounded crown.
6. Light Requirements
Sunlight: Full sun. Teak is a pioneer species that is highly light-demanding and does not tolerate shade, especially when young.
7. Watering Needs
Watering: Requires a significant amount of water, especially during its growing season. It thrives in climates with a distinct wet and dry season. Young trees need regular watering to establish, but mature trees are quite drought-tolerant. Avoid waterlogged conditions.
8. Soil & Potting
Soil Type: Prefers deep, fertile, and well-drained soils, particularly sandy loams. It does not grow well in shallow, compacted, or waterlogged soils.
pH Level: Tolerates a soil pH range of 6.5 to 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral).
9. Temperature & Humidity
Temperature: Ideal temperatures range from 22°C to 27°C (72°F to 81°F). It is a tropical tree and is not frost-tolerant.
Humidity: Prefers high humidity levels, especially during the monsoon or wet season, which promotes vigorous growth.
10. Fertilization
Fertilizer: Young saplings benefit from a balanced NPK (Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium) fertilizer to encourage strong root and shoot development. In plantation settings, fertilization is tailored to soil analysis. For garden cultivation, applying a balanced, slow-release fertilizer during the growing season is sufficient.
11. Maintenance & Care Level
Care Level: Moderate. Requires significant space, sunlight, and appropriate climate. Not suitable as an indoor plant or for small gardens. Once established in the right environment, it requires minimal care.
Pruning: Pruning is primarily done in commercial plantations to develop a long, straight, knot-free trunk. In a garden setting, prune to remove dead or damaged branches and to shape the tree as desired.
12. Growth & Propagation
Growth Rate: Fast-growing, particularly in the first 20 years, where it can gain significant height and girth annually under optimal conditions.
Propagation: Primarily propagated by seed. The seeds have a thick, hard coat and exhibit dormancy, often requiring pre-treatment (such as soaking and drying cycles) to stimulate germination. It can also be propagated through stump sprouts or tissue culture.
13. Common Problems
Pests: Susceptible to insect pests, including the Teak Defoliator Moth (*Hyblaea puera*) and the Teak Skeletonizer (*Eutectona machaeralis*), which feed on the leaves. Stem borers can also be a problem.
Diseases: Can be affected by leaf spot, rust, and root rot, particularly in poorly drained or overly wet conditions.
14. Benefits & Uses
Timber: The primary use is for its world-renowned timber, which is highly valued for its durability, water resistance, and resistance to termites and pests. It is used in high-end furniture, boat building (especially decks), flooring, and exterior construction.
Medicinal: Various parts of the tree, including the leaves, bark, and flowers, are used in traditional medicine systems to treat a range of ailments.
Environmental: Used in reforestation programs and agroforestry systems.
15. Toxicity & Safety
Toxicity to Humans: The plant itself is not considered toxic if ingested. However, the wood dust is a known sensitizer and can cause allergic reactions, including skin rashes (dermatitis), eye irritation, and respiratory problems in woodworkers.
Toxicity to Pets: Not extensively documented as toxic to common household pets, but it is always recommended to prevent animals from ingesting plant material not intended for consumption.
Tectona grandis
Own a piece of botanical royalty. The Tectona grandis, or Teak Tree, is more than just a plant—it's a long-term investment in beauty and value. Famed for producing the world's most sought-after timber, this young sapling gives you the chance to cultivate your very own source of this incredible wood. Perfect for large gardens in warm climates, the Teak tree grows into a majestic specimen, offering ample shade and a powerful statement. Its legendary durability is a testament to nature's genius. Start your legacy project today and watch this remarkable tree grow.
1. Basic Identification
Common Name: Teak Tree
Botanical Name: Tectona grandis
Former Name: Not applicable
Plant Type: Large deciduous tree
Plant Code / SKU: PLT-1713
Alternative Names:
Common Teak
Indian Teak
Burmese Teak
تكي (Arabic)
2. Taxonomy & Classification
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Tectona
3. Origin & Distribution
Native Range: South and Southeast Asia, including India, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Indonesia.
Distribution: Widely cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions across Africa, Asia, and Latin America for its valuable timber.
4. Visual Characteristics
Leaves: Very large, ovate to elliptic, measuring 15-45 cm (6-18 inches) long. The upper surface is rough to the touch, and the underside is covered in dense, soft hairs.
Flowers: Small, fragrant, whitish to bluish flowers that bloom in large, upright clusters (panicles) at the end of branches during the wet season.
Stem/Trunk: A tall, straight trunk with grey to greyish-brown bark that is fibrous and peels off in longitudinal strips.
Fruit: A fleshy, four-lobed drupe (fruit) that is enclosed in a light brown, papery, bladder-like calyx.
5. Size & Dimensions
Height: Typically grows up to 40 meters (130 feet) tall in its natural habitat.
Spread/Width: The canopy can spread 10-15 meters (30-50 feet) wide, creating a broad, rounded crown.
6. Light Requirements
Sunlight: Full sun. Teak is a pioneer species that is highly light-demanding and does not tolerate shade, especially when young.
7. Watering Needs
Watering: Requires a significant amount of water, especially during its growing season. It thrives in climates with a distinct wet and dry season. Young trees need regular watering to establish, but mature trees are quite drought-tolerant. Avoid waterlogged conditions.
8. Soil & Potting
Soil Type: Prefers deep, fertile, and well-drained soils, particularly sandy loams. It does not grow well in shallow, compacted, or waterlogged soils.
pH Level: Tolerates a soil pH range of 6.5 to 7.5 (slightly acidic to neutral).
9. Temperature & Humidity
Temperature: Ideal temperatures range from 22°C to 27°C (72°F to 81°F). It is a tropical tree and is not frost-tolerant.
Humidity: Prefers high humidity levels, especially during the monsoon or wet season, which promotes vigorous growth.
10. Fertilization
Fertilizer: Young saplings benefit from a balanced NPK (Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium) fertilizer to encourage strong root and shoot development. In plantation settings, fertilization is tailored to soil analysis. For garden cultivation, applying a balanced, slow-release fertilizer during the growing season is sufficient.
11. Maintenance & Care Level
Care Level: Moderate. Requires significant space, sunlight, and appropriate climate. Not suitable as an indoor plant or for small gardens. Once established in the right environment, it requires minimal care.
Pruning: Pruning is primarily done in commercial plantations to develop a long, straight, knot-free trunk. In a garden setting, prune to remove dead or damaged branches and to shape the tree as desired.
12. Growth & Propagation
Growth Rate: Fast-growing, particularly in the first 20 years, where it can gain significant height and girth annually under optimal conditions.
Propagation: Primarily propagated by seed. The seeds have a thick, hard coat and exhibit dormancy, often requiring pre-treatment (such as soaking and drying cycles) to stimulate germination. It can also be propagated through stump sprouts or tissue culture.
13. Common Problems
Pests: Susceptible to insect pests, including the Teak Defoliator Moth (*Hyblaea puera*) and the Teak Skeletonizer (*Eutectona machaeralis*), which feed on the leaves. Stem borers can also be a problem.
Diseases: Can be affected by leaf spot, rust, and root rot, particularly in poorly drained or overly wet conditions.
14. Benefits & Uses
Timber: The primary use is for its world-renowned timber, which is highly valued for its durability, water resistance, and resistance to termites and pests. It is used in high-end furniture, boat building (especially decks), flooring, and exterior construction.
Medicinal: Various parts of the tree, including the leaves, bark, and flowers, are used in traditional medicine systems to treat a range of ailments.
Environmental: Used in reforestation programs and agroforestry systems.
15. Toxicity & Safety
Toxicity to Humans: The plant itself is not considered toxic if ingested. However, the wood dust is a known sensitizer and can cause allergic reactions, including skin rashes (dermatitis), eye irritation, and respiratory problems in woodworkers.
Toxicity to Pets: Not extensively documented as toxic to common household pets, but it is always recommended to prevent animals from ingesting plant material not intended for consumption.