This vigorous tree has a smooth-flaky greyish buttress trunk with thick drooping branches that form a narrow domed crown. It has leathery dark green narrow-oval leaves and the white bell-shaped nocturnal flowers appear in a large cluster in spring.

Hardiness zones 10 to 12

Duabanga grandiflorais naturally found from eastern India to southern China, Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam growing along river banks in open areas or in tropical forests along the valley floors to the lower mountains up to an altitude of 1,500 m (4,921 ft).

It prefers an open sunny to semi-shaded protected position and grows in well drained organic rich reliable moist sandy to clay loam that is tending acidic and is frost and drought tender.

Duabanga is grown for its rapid growth and its pendant habit. It is planted in large tropical gardens as a specimen or used around water features. It is also planted in public places or grown for its timber. It is suitable for coastal and low-mountain regions and establishes in 3-4 years and has long lived.

The soft whitish timber is known as Lampati and is used for making plywood, interior construction, furniture and crates or boxes. The fruit is also edible but has a sour taste and in cold regions it is grown as a specimen in the conservatory or glasshouse. ID 3765

Duabanga (doo-uh-BAN-guh) grandiflora (gran-dih-FLOR-uh)

Lythraceae (ly-THRAY-see-ee)
Loosestrife, Pomegranate, Water Chestnut, Crepe Myrtle, Mangrove Apple