Colombia is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet, where a great variety of native trees thrive, many of which have accompanied the cultural and natural history of the country. These trees are not only an aesthetic and productive resource but also play vital roles for life: they stabilize soils, regulate water cycles, capture carbon, provide shelter and food for wildlife, and, in many cases, make part of ancestral traditions and knowledge.
The cultivation of native species is also a key strategy for conserving biodiversity. Planting trees that belong to our territory means supporting pollinators, protecting water sources, and keeping alive species that, often, are threatened by deforestation and changes in land use.
Seven native trees of Colombia
Mountain cedar (Cedrela montana)
The mountain cedar grows on the slopes of the Andean mountain range, mainly in the departments of Cundinamarca, Boyaca, Santander, Nariño, and Antioquia. It thrives at altitudes between 1,800 and 3,000 meters, in cool climates and well-drained loamy soils. It can reach up to 35 meters in height and has a straight trunk with light brown bark and a characteristic fragrance. Its flowers are small, white or yellowish, fragrant, and arranged in clusters, while its fruits are woody capsules that, when mature, release winged seeds dispersed by the wind. It requires moderate watering every two to three weeks, bimonthly fertilization, and annual pruning to maintain its vigor.
Andean oak (Quercus humboldtii)
The Andean oak is found in high-altitude forests of Cundinamarca, Boyaca, Antioquia, Santander, and Norte de Santander, at elevations ranging from 1,000 to 3,600 meters. This long-lived tree can exceed 30 meters in height, with thick leaves with wavy edges that change color depending on the season. Its male flowers hang in catkins, while the female ones are small and inconspicuous, producing brown acorns that feed birds and mammals. It prefers clay-rich soils with high organic content, needs watering every two weeks, and light pruning during the dry season.
Sietecueros (Tibouchina lepidota)
Sietecueros grows in the Andean regions of Boyaca, Cundinamarca, Nariño, and Cauca, between 1,300 and 3,200 meters above sea level. It is a medium-sized tree, reaching 12 to 20 meters, with reddish bark that peels off in patches and leaves that may turn reddish as they mature. Its flowers are large, with intense violet or magenta petals and yellow stamens, appearing several times a year, especially after the rainy season. The fruits are small capsules that release tiny seeds. It requires abundant sunlight, daily watering without waterlogging, and humus-rich soils.
Duraznillo (Abatia parviflora)
Duraznillo grows in cool and temperate climates in Antioquia, Boyaca, Cundinamarca, Nariño, and Tolima, at altitudes between 2,000 and 3,500 meters. It reaches up to 20 meters in height and has an irregular crown with rough, dark leaves. Its yellow flowers, grouped in clusters, attract bees and nectar-feeding birds. Its fruits are woody capsules that release small seeds. This tree needs full sun, weekly watering, and loose soils mixed with earth, peat, and rice husks, as well as staking in windy areas.
False pepper tree (Schinus molle)
The false pepper tree grows in temperate and warm areas of the Andean region, the dry Caribbean, and inter-Andean valleys. It adapts from sea level to moderate altitudes. This evergreen tree can measure between 6 and 25 meters, with a broad crown and drooping foliage. Its flowers are small, white or yellowish, arranged in panicles, and its fruits are pink or red drupes with a spicy flavor, used as a condiment. It tolerates drought and poor soils, requires full sun and moderate watering, and needs little pruning.
Urapán (Fraxinus uhdei)
@urapanesdelbosque El camino de urapanes en Cajamarca, Tolima, donde todos quieren tomarse fotos. 65 años de cuidado y preservación de este ecosistema nos permiten hoy en día gozar de un increíble lugar para tomar fotos innolvidables. #turismocajamarca #turismotolima #hospedajenatural #turismoecológico #hospedajerural #planromántico #caminodeurapanes #urapanesdelbosque
Urapán is found mainly in Cundinamarca, Boyaca, Antioquia, and Santander, between 2,000 and 3,000 meters of altitude. It can reach 25 meters in height and is characterized by its compound leaves and wide crown, ideal for providing shade. Its flowers are small and greenish, grouped in clusters, and its fruits are winged samaras easily dispersed by the wind. It requires watering every 10 to 15 days, deep, well-drained soils, and formative pruning during its first years.
Coffee walnut (Cordia alliodora)
The coffee walnut is distributed in warm and temperate areas of the Coffee Axis, Valle del Cauca, Huila, and Tolima, growing at altitudes between 500 and 1,800 meters above sea level. This fast-growing tree reaches 20 to 30 meters in height, with a straight trunk and grayish bark. Its flowers are white, fragrant, and arranged in small clusters, and its fruits are brown drupes that serve as food for birds. It adapts to fertile, well-drained soils and requires weekly watering during its first months, later reduced to dry-season periods in adulthood.