This large tree has a grey-brown buttress trunk with horizontal whorled branches that form a rounded crown. It has leathery glossy dark green lanced-shaped leaves and the small fragrant greenish-white trumpet-shaped flowers appear in clusters.

Hardiness zones 10 to 12

Alstonia scholarisis naturally found from Africa to south-east Asia, Malaysia and northern Australia growing in tropical forests on the coast and inland.

It prefers a well drained rich moist soil in a open sunny to semi shaded position and is slightly drought tolerant but frost tender.

The Devil Tree is grown for its foliage and its spreading habit. It is planted in parks and gardens as a shade tree or used in tropical gardens as a specimen. It is suitable for coastal regions and establishes in 3 to 4 years but may be difficult to obtain. The light timber is commonly used for carving in Sri Lanka or used to make school slates. ID 2907

Note:
Mature trees can grow to 30m (100ft) tall and tend to have an open habit with a straight trunk that contains bitter milky sap and bark which is used by the local people as an anti-malarial drug known as Dita.

Alstonia(al-STO-nee-a) scholaris(sko-LAIR-is)

Apocynaceae(a-pos-ih-NAY-see-ee)