Species Highly Recommended for Planting

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Ideal for Planting in Zone 1: Sea-side Beach Forest

These trees grow best along the beach, in dry sandy areas that the tides occassionaly reach; these
varieties withstand the salt, wind and sun.

Agoho(Casuarina equisetifolia) A beautiful, majestic, beach pine, the agoho has

been seen to grow on the beach, inland, as well as in the cities (as in the streets
of Malate and the South Luzon Expressway); Tall (20-25 meters) and distinct
(needle-like leaves)

Banalo or Malapuso (Thespesia Populnea) A medium sized tree with a roundish,

irregular crown, heart shaped leaves and a tight, dainty yellow flower, often
observed solitary in open beach areas. Its flowers resemlbe the Malubago’s but
do not open as widely.

Bani or Baruk-Baruk (Pongamia Pinnata) A spreading coastal tree whose trunk

often branches out a few feet from the ground. It has pink clustered flowers
that bloom even as the tree sheds its leaves. Large Baruk-baruks (around 25
meters) line the coastal highway of Dapitan. Many can also be found in the
coastal areas of Camarines Sur.

Dapdap(Erythrina Indica)For its large, red, exotic flowers it is cultivated and

sometimes also called the flame tree. Medium sized, its bark is rough and light
colored with fine black thorns on its trunk and branches.The Dapdap can also
be seen inland, and along city streets of Metro Manila

Dangkalan or Bitaog (Calophyllum Inophyllum) The Dangkalan’s thick and dark

green leaves make for a dense, deep cover. It’s fruits are round, yellow-green
and slightly smaller than golf-balls. Also observed to grow along coastal cliff
sides.
 Malubago (Hibiscus Tiliaceus) With a round, spreading crown, leaves are also
heart shaped but rougher in texture compared to the Banalo and have a slight
prickly feel. The malubago can be pruned into a large bush or will grow to a
small tree, distinctively attractive with its exotic bright-yellow flowers.
Talisay (Terminalia Catappa) Tuble (Derris Trifoliata)

Talisay (Terminalia Catappa)The most versatile of species listed here, the

Talisay can grow on sandy beaches by the shore, flooded river banks, inland, or
on city streets. Ideal as the first species to plant when regenerating a greenbelt
or a buffer zone as it can withstand harsh conditions despite the absence of
surrounding foliage.

Tuble (Derris Trifoliata) A small shrub-like tree with leathery, light-green leaves
similar to the phycus. Its small, pink flowers grow in clusters on long
spikes.Ideal for landscaping in beach gardens.

Ideal for Planting in Zone 2: Inland Beach Forest

These varietes cannot tolerate direct exposure to strong winds or salt water but will still grow well in
sandy areas farther away from the shore, slightly inland.
Botong(Barringtonia Asiatica)A large-leafed tree that is similar to the Talisay in
appearance, but has large, aromatic flowers, with long pink-tipped filaments
that are beautiful and highly attractive in bloom. Compared to the Talisay, its
bark is smoother, its configuration is less angular, and is tidier looking as it
does not shed its leaves as much. The large fruits are smaller than coconuts,
rounded and cubish at one end and pointed towards the other.
Caballero or Flame Tree (Delonix Regia) This specie has beautiful fiery-red-
orange flowers that cover the entire crown of the tree during the summer
months (as seen in the University campuses in Metro Manila like the Ateneo
and the U.P. and along the Pangasinan highways on route to Baguio). Among
the largest Caballeros along the coast can be seen in the sea-side hills of Culion
island in Palawan.
 Madre de Cacao or Kakawate (GliricidiaSepium) A good medium sized buffer
tree, grows easily in sandy, moderately windblown areas and can be
propagated easily by directly planting cuttings from branches.

Sampaloc (Tamarindus Indica) Grows to a towering 20-30 meters and makes

for a beautiful shade tree: cool, light and breezy. Makes for comfortable picnic
areas by the beach.

Ideal for Planting in Zone 3: Foreshore Mangroves

Such areas are recommended for planting only if known to have hosted mangroves in the past, or if
naturally occuring trees are thining, but never if the area is host to sea grass beds.
Pagatpat (Sonneratia Alba) With roundish (obviate), blue-green leaves, the
Pagatpat is a tall beautiful foreshore tree (i.e. it grows in areas of the beach
that take in shallow, knee to waist high waters at high tide but are completely
drained at low tide.) It is known to attract colonies of fireflies. It is ideal for
areas with sandy-coraline coastal planes. These also grow well in ventral areas
of reverted ponds alongside Avicennia Marina.

Ideal for Planting in Zone 4: Inland Mangroves

Reverted or abandoned ponds, riverbanks, and swampy areas regularly inundated with brackish water
(0-3 feet in water depth) are the ideal habitat for the following:
Bakawan Lalake, Babae of Bangkaw(Rhizophora Apiculata, Mucronata) This
family of mangroves are the most popularily used for mangrove
reforestation projects, although are often mistakenly planted monoculture
(plantation style) or in sea grass areas. Ideal for planting in erosion-prone
areas of muddy banks (as the network of roots make for excellent soil
catchers) and in the deep, central muddy-bottom areas of reverted ponds
since the mature tree is propped up by its network of exposed roots and can therefore take several feet
of flooding at the high tide; propagules are easy to collect and are best planted directly.
Busain (Bruguiera Cylindrica) These medium sized trees usually grow in the
upper areas of riverbanks (not directly in the water, but which are occasionaly
reached by very high tides). Can also be planted in the reverted ponds, in the
peripheral areas which remain wet but not necessarily flooded.

Malatangal (Ceriops Decandra) A shrub of medium height that grows to about

3 meters tall. These can be planted as a hedge on areas of more compact mud
as in the inclined areas of reverted pond dikes.
Tagasa (Ceriops Tagal) Pipisik or Api-api (Avicennia Marina) Nipa (Nypa
Fruticans)

Nipa(Nypa Fruticans)These exotic palm fronds have no central trunk, and are
easily identifiable in swampy or riverine areas; can be planted in dense
clusters; they grow well at the water line of rivers or in areas that are regularly
flooded (2-3 feet at high tide, possibly exposed or dry areas at low tide.)

Pipisik or Api-api (Avicennia Marina) When full-grown, these are huge

majestic trees with thick, light colored trunks (grey to light brown); Ideal for
planting at the shallow ends or portions of reverted ponds or along riverbanks,
in areas that are regularly flooded, but only with 1-2 feet of water at high tide
and are exposed at low tide.

Tagasa (Ceriops Tagal) A small tree that reaches to about 6 meters tall; makes
for a pleasant grove when planted in clusters or rows because of its lean,
upright stance. Its redish bark has many uses (e.g. to color tuba or fishnets; to
treat hemmorages and ulcers). These grow on firm sandy areas and can be
planted at the fringes of drier portions of reverted ponds.
 Ideal for Planting in Zone 5: Mangrove Fringe Forest
These trees, also called mangrove-associates, grow best along the fringes or upper banks of former
ponds and the drier portions at the edge of swampy areas, marking the landward transition. This zone
begins 3-15 feet away from the high water mark of reverted ponds or riverbanks and creeksides.

Buli or Buri(Corypha Elata) Tall majestic palms often distinctly identifiable

from long distances with their crowns protruding through the surrounding
treetops; grows well along riversides (dry, upper banks) and ideal for planting
in former pond dikes or corner areas to mark property boundaries.

Dungon (Heritiera Littoralis) A medium-sized tree, growing to about 20-30

meters, yielding a very hard wood that was used for building bridges and
boats when the wood was still abundant. Mature trees have very prominent
buttress roots (flat, canyon-like formations that form at the base of the tree).
It has conspicuous nut-like fruits, which are ridged (as with a dorsal fin),
shinny-green when fresh but chestnut brown when dried. Can be planted 2-5
feet away from the high water mark on the lower portions of reverted pond dikes or the edge of the
mangrove forest which floods or tides only reach occasionally.
Nigi (Xylocarpium Granatum) Medium sized trees that grow (up to 17m) along
the river’s edge or tidal creeks. Its large cannon ball-like fruit breaks up into
several pieces that fit perfectly like a puzzle, each of which is a seed about the
size of one’s palm. In season, these seeds are found scattered along the beach
in the hundreds. Very easy to germinate, these are ideal for planting at the
edges or fringes of reverted ponds (5-10 feet away from the high water mark)
in slightly elevated beds that remain damp by proximity to the water’s edge.
Piagau (Xylocarpium Moluccencis) A small tree that becomes prominent when
its leaves turn autumn red before shedding. Its seeds can also be found
littered on the beach, are similar to the Nigi but are more pyramidal and less
rounded on the edges. Seldom found on creek or river beds, these grow
better in the dryer, landward edges of the mangrove sections since they are
less tolerant of salt. On a property of reverted ponds, these may be planted
on the edge of the pond sections farthest from the beach, possibly on the lower banks of pond dikes