M. quinquenervia, no rights reserved (CC0) · iNaturalist

Trema spp.

charcoal tree

Cannabaceae Pantropical

Attracts Pollinators Attracts Butterflies

Native to North America

SunFull Sun

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 9–12

Overview

Trema spp. is a genus of about fifteen fast-growing trees and large shrubs in the hemp family, Cannabaceae, spread through the tropics and subtropics of both hemispheres. Species such as the charcoal tree, T. orientalis, and the West Indian T. micrantha reach 20-60 feet (6-18 m) and act as pioneers, springing up quickly on cleared or disturbed ground. The leaves are alternate in two ranks, narrowly oval with toothed margins and three main veins from the base, and feel rough like sandpaper. Small greenish flowers cluster along the shoots and give way to tiny round drupes that ripen black, red, or orange and are taken readily by birds. Growth is rapid but the wood is soft and the trees are short-lived, often lasting only fifteen to thirty years. The light timber is used for charcoal, matchwood, and paper pulp, and the foliage is browsed by livestock in some regions. Because it seeds heavily and colonises open ground, Trema spp. is treated as a weed tree in some areas. The genus is frost-tender and confined to warm climates.

Native Range

Found through the tropics of Africa, Asia, Australia, and the Americas, with individual species often wide-ranging; T. micrantha, for example, extends from Florida and Mexico through Central America to Argentina.

Suggested Uses

Grown for quick shade, shelter, and screening in tropical and subtropical gardens, and used in land rehabilitation as a nurse tree over slower hardwoods. The timber serves for charcoal, pulp, and light construction.

How to Identify

Recognised as a fast-growing small tree with slender, spreading branches and two-ranked, narrowly oval leaves that are toothed, three-veined at the base, and rough to the touch. Clusters of tiny greenish flowers sit in the leaf axils, followed by small round drupes ripening black to orange. The sandpaper-textured, three-veined leaves separate Trema spp. from the related hackberries, Celtis spp..

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height20' - 60'

Width/Spread15' - 30'

Colors

Flower Colors

green

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~12 weeks

Spring Summer

In warm climates flowering can occur over much of the year, with peaks in spring and summer. The small greenish flowers are wind- and insect-pollinated and easy to overlook. Small drupes follow quickly and ripen over several weeks.

Detailed Descriptions

Foliage Description

green

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun

Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range5.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam sand clay

Drainagewell drained

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

tender

Time to Maturity

5-10 years

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

These are trees of warm, frost-free climates, growing in full sun in most free-draining soils across a pH of about 5.5 to 7.5. Growth is fast, and young trees establish quickly on poor and disturbed ground. Moderate moisture suits them, though established trees handle short dry spells. The soft wood is brittle and prone to breakage in storms, so the trees are kept away from structures. Seed germinates freely and self-sown seedlings can appear in numbers. The genus has few serious pests but is killed by hard frost, limiting it to zones 9 and warmer.

Pruning

Pruning is used to lift the crown and remove weak or crossing branches while trees are young, since the brittle wood breaks easily. Dead and storm-damaged wood is cleared as needed. Self-sown seedlings are pulled to limit spread.