How to Grow Leucaena (Lead Tree) Tarramba

Wikimedia Commons

Leucaena (Lead Tree) Tarramba

Leucaena leucocephala 'Tarramba'

tree

Tarramba is a cultivar of Leucaena leucocephala, a fast-growing tropical legume tree prized for nitrogen fixation, fodder production, and agroforestry applications. It produces delicate fern-like foliage and distinctive white, ball-shaped flower clusters followed by long seed pods. This variety is known for improved palatability and reduced mimosine content compared to standard leucaena.

When should you plant Leucaena (Lead Tree) Tarramba in your zone?

Get a personalized planting timeline — when to start seeds, transplant, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Free to start.

Get my Leucaena (Lead Tree) Tarramba timeline →

Example Leucaena (Lead Tree) Tarramba timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

Plant Leucaena (Lead Tree) Tarramba
Around Apr 17

Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
Tend & protect
Late spring–summer

Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
Harvest Leucaena (Lead Tree) Tarramba
Late summer into fall

Before the first fall frost (≈ Nov 8)

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Leucaena (Lead Tree) Tarramba dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️

Sun: Full sun, 6+ hours daily; tolerates partial shade but growth is best in full sun

💧

Water: Drought-tolerant once established; water regularly during establishment (first 6-12 months). Needs occasional deep watering during prolonged dry seasons but generally requires minimal supplemental irrigation in tropical climates.

📏

Spacing: 120-180 inches (10-15 feet) between trees for fodder production; closer spacing (60-120 inches) for erosion control and coppicing systems inches

📅

Days to maturity: 270-365 days to first substantial harvest; full productivity by 2-3 years

🌱

Planting depth: Scarify seeds and plant 0.5-1 inch deep; transplants at soil line from nursery pots

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy to sandy soil; tolerates poor, marginal, and degraded soils

pH: 5.5-7.5

Amendments:

Compost for initial establishment Inoculant with Rhizobium bacteria (nitrogen-fixing) Minimal fertilizer needed due to nitrogen fixation

Growing Zones

Find your zone →

Thrives in tropical and subtropical regions (zones 9b-12, frost-free areas)

9b 10a 10b 11a 11b 12a 12b

Get my Leucaena (Lead Tree) Tarramba timeline →

Growth Stages

Seedling (0-4 weeks)

3-4 weeks

Small seedlings with simple leaflets emerging from cotyledons; delicate fern-like foliage begins to develop; plants are 2-6 inches tall

Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; provide bright light; protect from wind and direct sun if started indoors; transplant when 4-6 inches tall with 2-3 true leaf pairs

Juvenile Growth (1-6 months)

4-6 months

Rapid establishment with main stem elongation and progressive branching; compound pinnate leaves fully developed; plant reaches 2-6 feet tall

Water regularly during dry periods; mulch to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds; apply light nitrogen-fixing inoculant at planting if not pre-treated; stake if in windy location

Vegetative Development (6-18 months)

12 months

Vigorous branching and canopy expansion; dense fern-like foliage; plant reaches 6-15 feet; begins producing lateral shoots suitable for coppicing

Thin competing shoots if single-stem form desired; first light pruning/coppicing may begin; minimal fertilizer needed; maintain weed-free zone; monitor for pests

Flowering & Early Fruiting (18-24+ months)

6-12 months or continuous in tropical climates

Production of distinctive white, ball-shaped flower clusters (cream-colored pompoms); flowers attract pollinators; followed by long, flat, papery seed pods containing 15-25 seeds each

Allow flowering for seed production or cut for fodder before flowering; coppice after first flowering to encourage multiple harvests; no specific flowering care needed

Productive Harvest & Coppicing (24+ months onwards)

Ongoing; 15-25 years productivity

Mature tree producing abundant fodder, firewood, and seeds; responds vigorously to cutting with rapid regrowth from coppice shoots; multiple harvests per year in optimal conditions

Cut at 1-1.5 meters for fodder coppicing; allow 6-8 weeks between cuts; thin competing coppice shoots; manage for 15-20 year productive lifespan; replant after decline

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Desmodium species (soil improvement) Sesbania (nitrogen fixation, green manure) Pigeon pea (Cajanus cajan) Maize (intercropping) Ground-cover legumes Alley crop systems with vegetables

Avoid planting near:

Mimosa pudica (similar invasive tendencies) Dense shade-producing trees that compete for light Sensitive crops in regions where leucaena may self-seed aggressively

Common Pests

Select resistant cultivars like Tarramba; use biological controls (parasitoid wasps, entomopathogenic fungi); prune affected shoots; chemical control rarely needed in healthy stands
Monitor for damage; hand-pick on small trees; use Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) if severe; natural predators usually control populations
Reduce flowering/pod production if pest control is priority; remove infested pods; monitor seed for insect damage
Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap; encourage natural enemies; prune heavily infested branches

Uses

🍳

Livestock Fodder & Animal Feed

Culinary

Tarramba leaves and young twigs are highly palatable and nutritious green fodder for cattle, goats, sheep, and poultry. The high protein content (15-25% in leaves) makes it an excellent supplement to grasses and a valuable feed source in tropical agroforestry systems. [source]

💊

Nutritional Supplement & Micronutrient Source

Medicinal

Leucaena foliage contains significant levels of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids; traditionally used in some tropical regions to supplement human diets, particularly in resource-limited settings. The Tarramba cultivar has reduced mimosine (an antinutritional compound), making it safer for consumption. [source]

🏠

Firewood & Charcoal Production

Household

Mature branches and pruned wood provide good-quality firewood with reasonable calorific value and can be converted to charcoal. The fast regrowth of coppiced trees makes it a sustainable renewable energy source in tropical regions. [source]

🎨

Timber & Construction Material

Craft

While not a premium timber, leucaena wood is used for small-scale construction, poles, tool handles, and light structural applications. The wood is suitable for certain craft and furniture applications in tropical regions. [source]

🦋

Nitrogen Fixation & Soil Improvement

Wildlife

As a legume, Tarramba forms symbiotic relationships with Rhizobium bacteria, fixing atmospheric nitrogen and enriching soil. Its leaf litter and prunings improve soil structure and fertility, making it invaluable in regenerative agriculture and agroforestry systems. [source]

This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.

Harvest Tips

For fodder: Cut stems and branches at 1-1.5 meters height when plants are 6-8 weeks old; strip leaves from branches (5-15% protein content, highly nutritious for livestock). For seed: Allow pods to mature and dry on tree (brown coloration), then collect in dry season; seeds remain viable 2+ years if stored dry. For firewood: Harvest mature branches; wood has good calorific value. Tarramba can be harvested 2-4 times per year in tropical regions.

Fun Facts

🌱 The common name 'Lead Tree' refers to its ability to quickly establish and 'lead' reforestation in degraded lands, not any toxic lead content; the Tarramba cultivar was specifically bred in Australia to improve palatability and reduce antinutritional compounds.
🌱 Leucaena can produce 10-20 tons of dry biomass per hectare annually in optimal tropical conditions, making it one of the fastest-growing trees suitable for agroforestry and smallholder farming.
🌱 The distinctive white flower clusters are so ball-shaped and ornamental that leucaena is sometimes planted as a decorative tree in addition to its productive uses; the flowers are highly attractive to bees and other pollinators.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Cultivar Full Sun Mulch Partial Shade pH Transplant

Shop Leucaena (Lead Tree) Tarramba plants and related plants at Plant Addicts →

Join 30,000 gardeners planning their gardens with LizPlants.

Get your personalized Leucaena (Lead Tree) Tarramba planting timeline

Tell us your zip code and we'll calculate exactly when to start Leucaena (Lead Tree) Tarramba seeds, transplant seedlings, and harvest — based on your USDA zone and local frost dates. Includes calendar reminders and printable task lists. Free to start.

Get my Leucaena (Lead Tree) Tarramba timeline →