The wonderful disease and insect resistant wood from the Tabebuia genus trees is used for decks, outdoor furniture and other exterior structures because of the durability and weather-resistance. Called ipé in some locales, the tabebuia is found from Northern Mexico to Northern Argentina and all places in between, including the Caribbean Islands. The 100 species of this genus grow as shrubs and trees of up to medium size. They are planted along boulevards as ornamentals because of their flowering beauty. The flowers often appear on leafless limbs before the foliage grows again after the dry season hiatus.
The demand for the ipé wood in the USA has caused environmental concerns and efforts are being made to control the harvesting of the tabebuia, particularly in the Amazon, where much of the marketable timber grows. The famed Coney Island boardwalk in Brooklyn, New York is of ipé wood. The life-cycle of the ten-mile long boardwalk is about 25 years and is then replaced with more ipé wood. The Wildwood, New Jersey boardwalk was partially replaced in 2008-9 with ipé wood. In the Amazon the density of ipé wood trees is only one or two trees per acre so the Coney Island boardwalk required the searching for and harvesting of the trees from more than 83,000 acres. Fortunately, the tree adapts well to farming and much of the ipé wood now used comes from cultured plantings.
Spurred on by environmental organizations, the illegal harvesting and exporting of ipé wood has been greatly curtailed. Buyers may ask for and receive certification of the origins of the lumber they purchase, assuring compliance with the new international regulations. Almost all of the ipé coming into the USA is legally harvested, much of it coming from the aforementioned tree farms.
In addition to the fine hardwood and ornamental values, the bark of some species of tabebuia trees has medicinal properties. Shredded and brewed in a tea that is used during flu season and for easing “smokers cough,” the bitter brew contains curative flavonoids that reportedly are very helpful. The bark from some species is used in topical applications as an insect repellent or antibiotic.
