Are you interested in attracting birds? Today we explore five native trees of Jamaica that are loved by birds and is used for other purposes.

Ramoon

Ramoon, scientifically called, Trophis racemosa, has slender flexible twigs, grows between 5-20 metres tall; sap milky or very thin. The tree is planted island wide but can be commonly found in Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. Ann and Portland. The tree is considered to grow best in woodlands on limestone. The leaves of the tree makes good fodder for livestock, in Jamaica the herb is also used to increase reproduction in animals.

Dogwood

Dogwood, scientifically called, Piscidia piscipula, is a deciduous tree, growing between 5-15 metres tall, with young twigs and flowers that are silky-puberulous. The tree can commonly be found in St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Hanover, St. James, St. Ann, St. Mary and St. Thomas. The tree is considered to grow best in arid areas on sand or gravel or in woodlands on limestone. The wood of the tree was historically used to make wooden wheels, carriage frames, railroad ties, live fence posts and charcoal.

Wild Ackee

Wild Ackee, scientifically called, Cupania glabra, is a tree that grows up to 13 metres tall with lanky long branches. The tree is considered to grow best in thickets  and secondary woodlands on limestone in parishes such as St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Trelawny and St. Ann. The tree flowers in June and September to January and is generally used for firewood, charcoal and as wild bird food.

Prickly Yellow

Prickly Yellow/Yellow Hercules, scientifically called Zanthoxylum martinicense, is a tree that grows up to 18 metres tall. It is thin, with spreading crown and straight trunk. The trunk and branches has thick conical spines and young twigs. The tree grows best in secondary forests found in St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, Trelawny, St. Ann, Portland and St. Thomas. The wood of the tree is generally used for furniture, cabinet work and in building construction.

Yellow Sanders

Yellow Sanders, scientifically called Buchenavia tetraphylla, is a tree that grows between 6-22 metres tall with branches spreading horizontally, leaves crowded on the twigs. The tree grows best in woodlands, thickets on savannas and in heavy soil. It can be found in St. Andrew, Clarendon and Trelawny. The tree flowers in February and July. The wood of the tree is generally used to make furniture, for cabinet work and walking sticks.

Broadleaf

Broadleaf, scientifically called, Terminalia latifolia, is a tall straight tree growing 20-30 metres with branches markedly horizontal with buttressed trunk. The tree is planted island wide but can be commonly found in Clarendon, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. James and St. Andrew. The tree is considered to grow best in relict woodlands. The wood, though not considered durable is used to make shingles, barrel staves and interior boards.

Logwood

Logwood, scientifically called, Haematoxylum campechianum, is a tree, growing up to 10 metres tall, gnarled with the trunk and larger branches fluted. The tree can commonly be found in St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendon, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, St. James, Trelawny and St. Ann. The tree is considered to grow best on exposed limestone hillside in dry secondary thickets. The tree is valued for its dye obtained from the wood of the tree. Branches used to make fence posts, axe handles, cabinet work articles and inlays, railway sleepers and yam sticks.dismantled.

Jamaican Mahogany

Jamaican mahogany, scientifically called, Swietenia mahagoni, is a deciduous tree that can grow up to 20 metres tall and 5 metres in diameter. The tree is described as having a short buttressed base, when large and a much branched spreading crown. The tree can be commonly found in St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. James, Trelawny and St. Ann. The tree is considered exceptionally valuable and had become a premier furniture wood of the world. Its wood is considered superior in quality and durability to the wood of the Honduras mahogany.

Fiddlewood

Fiddlewood, scientifically called Citharexylum caudatum is a tree that grows up to 12 metres tall. The tree is commonly in St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Hanover, Trelawny, St. Ann and St. Thomas. This tree is considered to grow best in thickets and woodlands, on limestone and shale hills. The tree is commonly used to make posts, railway ties and fuel.

Ramoon

Ramoon, scientifically called, Trophis racemosa, has slender flexible twigs, grows between 5-20 metres tall; sap milky or very thin. The tree is planted island wide but can be commonly found in Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, St. Ann and Portland. The tree is considered to grow best in woodlands on limestone. The leaves of the tree makes good fodder for livestock, in Jamaica the herb is also used to increase reproduction in animals.

Dogwood

Dogwood, scientifically called, Piscidia piscipula, is a deciduous tree, growing between 5-15 metres tall, with young twigs and flowers that are silky-puberulous. The tree can commonly be found in St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Hanover, St. James, St. Ann, St. Mary and St. Thomas. The tree is considered to grow best in arid areas on sand or gravel or in woodlands on limestone. The wood of the tree was historically used to make wooden wheels, carriage frames, railroad ties, live fence posts and charcoal.

Wild Ackee

Wild Ackee, scientifically called, Cupania glabra, is a tree that grows up to 13 metres tall with lanky long branches. The tree is considered to grow best in thickets and secondary woodlands on limestone in parishes such as St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Trelawny and St. Ann. The tree flowers in June and September to January and is generally used for firewood, charcoal and as wild bird food.

Prickly Yellow

Prickly Yellow/Yellow Hercules, scientifically called Zanthoxylum martinicense, is a tree that grows up to 18 metres tall. It is thin, with spreading crown and straight trunk. The trunk and branches has thick conical spines and young twigs. The tree grows best in secondary forests found in St. Andrew, St. Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester, St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, Hanover, Trelawny, St. Ann, Portland and St. Thomas. The wood of the tree is generally used for furniture, cabinet work and in building construction.

Yellow Sanders

Yellow Sanders, scientifically called Buchenavia tetraphylla, is a tree that grows between 6-22 metres tall with branches spreading horizontally, leaves crowded on the twigs. The tree grows best in woodlands, thickets on savannas and in heavy soil. It can be found in St. Andrew, Clarendon and Trelawny. The tree flowers in February and July. The wood of the tree is generally used to make furniture, for cabinet work and walking sticks.

Information source: Manual of Dendrology