Ornatec InternationalSpecies reference sheet ยท ornatecinternational.com
Triplaris surinamensis
Ant Tree
The pink on Triplaris surinamensis is not flower, it is fruit. The species is dioecious, and only the female trees develop the three-winged bracts that colour bright rose and hold for two to three months, which is the entire ornamental case for the tree.
The form is useful too: fast, upright and narrow, with a columnar crown that suits a street reserve where wider canopies will not fit. The common name refers to the stinging ants that occupy the hollow stems within its native range.
Specifications
- Height15 to 25 metres
- Width4 to 6 metres
- Native toNorthern South America, in Suriname, Brazil, Peru and Bolivia
- FoliageLarge, oblong, glossy leaves on stout upright stems; briefly deciduous in the dry season
- Growth rateFast
Conditions
- SoilPrefers deep, moist, free-draining soils
- LightFull sun
- WaterModerate; needs reliable moisture and is not drought-hardy
- ClimateThrives in humid tropical and subtropical regions
Additional Features
- FlowersSmall cream flowers on male trees and pink-bracted flowers on female trees, followed on females by bright rose winged fruit
- UsesNarrow street reserves, avenue planting, plazas and tropical park schemes
- SpacingPlant 5 to 7 metres apart to make use of the narrow crown
- Low MaintenancePrune to lift the crown; the tree naturally holds a clean columnar form
- Pest ResistanceGenerally sound in cultivation; the hollow stems are colonised by stinging ants in its native range, which is not usually the case in planted landscapes
- Seasonal AppealTwo to three months of bright rose winged fruit on female trees
- FormUpright and columnar, occupying very little lateral space
The Ant Tree is a narrow, fast, high-colour street tree, and the specification has to call for female plants to get the display.
Availability by project review. Sizes, quantities, origin and export readiness are confirmed after your plant schedule is reviewed against destination, timing and quarantine requirements. MEWA certified for supply into Saudi Arabia; Australian Export Registered Establishment.
Enquiries: sales@ornatecinternational.com
310 Donkin Rd, Utchee Creek QLD 4871, Australia
Prepared 09 September 2026