Leucaena leucocephala

Common Name: white leadtree

Family: Fabaceae

Common Synonyms: none

USDA Hardiness Zone: 9a-11

Growth Habit: Shrub to small tree

Origin: Mexico and Central America

FISC Category: 2

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: Yes

Introduction Date: Introduced first to Hawaii in 1864 and soon afterwards to the mainland United States in Florida and Texas

IFAS Assessment:

• North: PROHIBITED
• Central: PROHIBITED
• South: PROHIBITED

Description

Shrub or small tree growing up to 7.5 m tall. Leaves up to 25 cm long, twice divided with 12 sets of opposite arranged lance-shaped leaflets. Flowers are clustered at tips of branches, and are white. Fruits are flat, brown pods 10 to 15 cm long with up to 20 shiny brown seeds.

Habitat

Ruderal, coastal strands, disturbed areas

Comments

Prolific seed producer. Seeds spread by rodents and birds. Rapidly re-sprouts post-fire and produces new shoots when cut. Difficult to control, chemical treatments often not wholly effective. Treated plants can stay dormant for long periods. Creates long-lived seed bank.

Control Methods

• Manual: Mechanical: No known mechanical controls, but continued cutting will kill larger trees with time. Small plants are killed by mowing or grazing.
• Chemical: Basal bark or cut stem (10%-20% triclopyr ester) has been reported to be effective while others report only partial success with higher rates. Basal bark and cut stem applications of 25% triclopyr ester has been effective on trees <3 inches diameter, while larger trees were not killed. Large trees must be completely girdled for frill/girdle applications. Experimental application of Milestone (aminopyralid) indicates that basal bark, cut stump, and foliar applications can be effective. Rates have not been refined. [IFAS]
• Biological: Jumping lice/leucanea psyllid (Heteropsylla cubana) can damage, but not eliminate plants. Allowing goats to continuosly graze on white lead tree has also been shown to be effective.

Control Notes

Remove all plants prior to seed production. Difficult to control and variable results have been reported. Must track treated individuals for many months to ensure complete kill vs. top kill with dormancy.

References

Texas invasives database. 2017. Leucaena leucocephala. http://www.texasinvasives.org/plant_database/detail.php?symbol=LELE10/Accessed September 19, 2017.

IFAS, UF. 2017. Assessment of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas. Leucaena leucocephala . https://assessment.ifas.ufl.edu/assessments/leucaena-leucocephala/Accessed September 19, 2017.

IFAS, Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants. 2017. Leucaena leucocephala. http://plants.ifas.ufl.edu/plant-directory/leucaena-leucocephala/Accessed September 19, 2017.

Dave's Garden. 2017. PlantFiles: white leadtree (Leucaena leucocephala) . http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/64328/Accessed September 19, 2017.