9 Philippine Native Trees Better Than Cherry Blossoms

1. KATMON (Dillenia philippinensis)
Conservation Status: Vulnerable

via tropical.theferns.info

Katmon is found only in the Philippines, being common in forests of low and medium altitude throughout the islands in primary and
secondary forests. It can also be used for urban greening and is a favorite among garden enthusiasts.

via seventeeneightyfour.blogspot.com

The fruit of Katmon, whose acid is mixed with sugar to make a traditional cure for cough,  is known as elephant apple. The fruit is
edible with a flavor similar to a sour green apple and is used to make sauces, jams, and flavoring for fish. Katmon's flowers are
large, white, and are about 15 centimeters in diameter with reddish pistils and stamens. This evergreen tree can grow as high as 15
meters and its wood is suitable for furniture. When quartered, the wood has a beautiful silver grain similar to a quartered oak,
whose features are suitable for furniture and cabinet making. 
2. MOLAVE (Vitex parviflora)
Conservation Status: Vulnerable

via tropical.theferns.info

"Molave forests" can be found all throughout the Philippines. It is common in both secondary and open primary forests at low
altitude. Aside from the Philippines, Molave is also native to Indonesia and Malaysia.

via Fredd Ochavo

Molave can grow up to 30 meters and its wood is one of the hardest. It is used in railroad ties, ship-building, and high-grade
construction where strength and durability is necessary. The flowers are purplish, numerous, in clusters at the end of small
branches. Its leaves, resistant to fungal, termite, and lyctus beetle attack, are used as fodder. Molave is also often used in
reforestation projects in the country.

3. BANI (Milletia pinnata; syn. Pongamia pinnata)

Conservation Status: Least Concern

A town in Pangasinan is named after the magnificent Bani. While it is native in southern and eastern Asia, and Australia, Bani is
also cultivated in Africa and the USA.
 via greenerpro.com

A legume tree, Bani grows to about 15–25 meters in height with a large canopy spreading wide. It may be deciduous (sheds it
leaves) for short periods. It is often used as a windbreak or for shade due to the large canopy and showy fragrant flowers. Bani's
flowers are small clusters of white, purple and pink. The flowers are used by gardeners as compost for plants requiring rich
nutrients. The wood is said to be beautifully grained but splits easily when cut thus relegating it to firewood, posts, and tool
handles. For thousands of years, its oil, known as pongamia oil, has been used as lamp oil, in soap making, and as a lubricant.

via wikipedia.com

4. ILANG-ILANG (Cananga odorata)
Conservation Status: N/A
 via macysystem.com

Ilang-ilang originates in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia. It is a medium-sized tree reaching a height of up to 40 meters tall.
When grown for perfume extraction, it is grown not more than three meters tall for easy collection of the flowers.

via pinterest.com

The flower is drooping, long-stalked, with six narrow, greenish-yellow (rarely pink) petals, and produces a highly fragrant oil. It is
often strung with sampaguita to make leis offered in religious ceremonies. The famous Chanel No. 5 uses extracts of the Ilang-ilang
flowers.

5. BANABA (Lagerstroemia speciosa)
Conservation Status: N/A

via Fredd Ochavo

Banaba is native to tropical southern Asia. Known also as the Pride of India, It is also widely cultivated as an ornamental plant in
tropical and subtropical areas.
 via Fredd Ochavo

The leaves of the Banaba and other parts are used widely in the Philippines, Taiwan, and Japan for tea preparation. Each flower
has six white to purple petals and blooms only once in a year at the peak of summer. Banaba is also one of the 69 herbal
plants promoted by the Department of Health (DOH).

6. MALABULAK (Bombax ceiba)
Conservation Status: N/A

via treesplanet.blogspot.com

Malabulak is often mistaken as the Fire Tree (Delonix regia) – originally from Madagascar – or the Caballero (Caesalpinia
pulcherrima) – introduced from tropical America – because of its similarly vibrant red flowers. In Tagalog, it is also known as
Buboi-gubat, and Taglinau. It closely resembles the Kapok (Ceiba pentandrum) which is an introduced species.
 via szuchiwang.com and wikipedia.com

thelovelyplants.com

Malabulak grows up to 25 meters. It sheds it leaves then gets covered in beautiful red flowers that attract lots of insects and birds.
Malabulak usually blooms in February.

Read Also: The Flavors of Bani

7. DAP-DAP (Erythrina orientalis)
Conservation Status: Least Concern

via whangareiflora.weebly.com

Dap-dap is a thorny deciduous tree growing to 27 meters tall. In the Philippines, it is commonly found along seashores and is
frequently planted inland.
 via flickr.com

Dap-dap's flowers are large and numerous with bright red petals. It is used in traditional medicine across its native area including
the Philippines, China and India to treat a range of aliments including joint pain and parasitic infections.

8. SALINGBOBOG (Crateva religiosa)
Conservation Status: N/A

via Fredd Ochavo

Salingbobog, also known as Balai-lamok, is a moderate-sized deciduous tree growing to a height of 15 meters. It may be the
closest thing we have to a cherry blossom.
 via icwow.blogspot.com

The fruit of the tree is edible and high in vitamin C. Salingbobog's leaves are traditionally used to treat irregular menstruation. Its
flowers are greenish-yellow which turns purplish later. The flowers are filled with nectar, making it attractive to many insects and
birds.

9. NARRA (Pterocarpus indicus)
Conservation Status: Vulnerable

via alltheplants4.blogspot.com

The Philippines' national tree, Narra is found in primary and secondary forests at low and medium altitudes throughout the country.
 via Fredd Ochavo

Narra's purplish rose-scented hardwood is much sought-after in the furniture-making industry primarily because it is generally
termite-resistant. Its slightly fragrant yellow or yellow-orange flowers bloom from February to May and are a source of honey.