Generally, native, endemic and some Caribbean trees are the best, since they, over thousands of years, adapted to hurricanes. So, DO NOT plant Pine, Eucalyptus, Yellow Poui, Jacaranda, African Tulip Tree, Leuceana or Mango. Fruit trees, for various reasons, are not suited for roadsides. The good ones are:

1. West Indian Mahogany* [NOT Honduras Mahogany and NOT hybrids of the two. Genetically clean trees are at King’s House, Tulloch Estates, Bermuda Mount for seed collection. If you go to Forestry Department, make sure you get the native (W.I.) Mahogany and ask for seed source.
2. West Indian Cedar*
3. Blue Mahoe*
4. Santa Maria*
5. Spanish Elm*
6. Bitter Damsel*
7. White Cedar (White Poui)*
8. French Oak (Yoke Wood)*
9. Red Birch (Bird feeder)
10. Burn Wood (Bird feeder)
11. Lignum Vitae (for dual carriage median and urban use)*
12. Stinking Toe
13. Cuban Royal Palm (used to be in Portland, Port Antonio, Buff Bay)
14. Jamaican Royal Palm (Swamp Cabbage, for wet lowland areas, Negril, Black River etc.)
15. Bull Thatch Palm (commonly used in DR, even the capital)
16. Sea Grappe
17. Seaside Mahoe
18. Red Cordia
19. Black Olive
20. Tecoma, Yellow Elder (for dual carriage median)

* are usually available at Forestry Department; most others are easily grown from seed (Red Birch from cuttings).

Do not remove mature trees, palms from the wild!

Source:

Andreas Oberlie
Director, Plant Conservation Centre
PO Box 274, Kingston 6
Jamaica West Indies
Tel. (876)944-8366
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