Tamanu (Alexandrian Laurel) care

Light

Tamanu needs sun on the leaves, not just bright ambient room light. Requires full sun for at least 6–8 hours daily. Young trees tolerate some dappled shade but produce denser canopy and better fruit set in unobstructed direct sunlight. Not suited to indoor conditions except as a temporary seedling. A south or west-facing windowsill in the northern hemisphere is the default; anywhere else, expect the plant to stretch and pale out within a season.

Watering

Water tamanu weekly when established; more frequent for young trees. The actual day count varies with pot size, light, and season — the finger test (or lifting the pot to feel its weight) is more reliable than a fixed calendar. Empty any drainage saucer afterwards so the pot isn't sitting in water. Drought-tolerant once established but grows faster with regular moisture. Water deeply and allow soil to dry slightly between waterings. Highly tolerant of coastal conditions and brief waterlogging. Reduce watering in cooler, drier seasons.

Soil and pot

Tamanu grows best in sandy, well-draining loam; tolerates coastal sandy soils. Naturally grows in sandy beach and coastal soils. Tolerates poor, infertile, and slightly saline soils. Prefers a slightly acidic to neutral pH (5.5–7.0). Avoid heavy clay with poor drainage. A pot with a working drainage hole is non-negotiable for this species — even free-draining mix will turn soggy in a closed planter. If you love the look of a decorative pot without a hole, use it as a cachepot around an inner nursery pot you can lift out to water.

Humidity and temperature

Tamanu sits happiest at around 60–90% RH humidity and 20–35°C (68–95°F). Native to tropical coastal environments with high humidity. Tolerates lower humidity when established but performs best in humid, maritime conditions. Not suited to arid climates. If you keep the room above 20–35°C year-round and avoid placing the plant near a cold draught, a hot radiator, or an air-conditioning vent, you have already handled the two biggest indoor stressors.

Fertilising

Feed tamanu sparingly. Feed with a balanced slow-release fertiliser (10-10-10 or similar) in spring and mid-summer. Young trees benefit from light nitrogen supplementation to encourage canopy establishment. Avoid heavy fertilising on established trees in poor soils — they are naturally adapted to nutrient-sparse coastal conditions. Skip fertiliser entirely on a stressed, recently-repotted, or actively wilting plant — fertiliser salts make damage worse, not better. Wait for a round of healthy new growth before resuming a feeding rhythm.

Common problems

Below are the issues we see most often on tamanu in the Growli community. Each is annotated with the most common cause so you know where to start.

• Root rot in heavy soils — In clay or waterlogged soils, roots are prone to fungal rot. Ensure excellent drainage or plant on a raised mound. Symptoms include yellowing leaves and wilting despite moist soil.
• Leaf spot (Pestalotiopsis spp.) — Brown or grey spots with yellow halos may appear in wet conditions with poor air circulation. Remove affected foliage and avoid overhead irrigation. Copper-based fungicide can be used for severe cases.
• Scale insects — Armored and soft scales can colonise branches and stems, causing yellowing and sooty mould. Treat with horticultural oil spray; systemic insecticide may be needed for heavy infestations.

Propagation

Most reliably from fresh seed — remove the outer fruit flesh and sow the seed (still in its shell) immediately, as viability declines rapidly. Seeds germinate in 4–8 weeks at 25–30°C with consistent moisture. Cuttings are possible but difficult; semi-hardwood tip cuttings under mist with rooting hormone have variable success. Air-layering can be used on mature specimens. Propagation is the cheapest, most satisfying way to expand a collection — and it doubles as insurance against losing a mature plant to an accident. Take a backup cutting once the parent is established and healthy.

Toxicity to pets

Tamanu is mildly toxic to pets. Calophyllum inophyllum is not individually listed by ASPCA. The seed kernel and bark contain calophyllolide and other coumarins/resins that are known irritants and potentially toxic if ingested in quantity. The seed oil (used topically in cosmetics) is not intended for consumption. Keep seeds away from pets and children. Exercise caution; do not classify as pet-safe. If you keep cats, dogs, or curious children in the house, weigh placement carefully — a high shelf or a hanging planter is enough for casual safety. For severe ingestion incidents, call your local vet and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (in the US, 888-426-4435).

Pet-safety status is sourced from the ASPCA Toxic and Non-Toxic Plant List, which catalogues the most-asked-about plants for cats, dogs, and horses.

Tamanu deep-dive guides

Every aspect of tamanu care, each with its own calibrated guide:

• Common tamanu problems & fixes
• Tamanu watering schedule
• Tamanu light requirements
• Best soil mix for tamanu
• Tamanu fertilizing guide
• When to repot tamanu
• How to propagate tamanu
• How to prune tamanu
• What's eating my tamanu?
• Tamanu growth rate & size
• Tamanu cold hardiness
• Tamanu temperature & humidity
• Is tamanu toxic to cats & dogs?
• Is tamanu toxic to cats?
• Is tamanu toxic to dogs?

Featured in these plant shortlists

Tamanu qualifies for 4 curated Growli shortlists — each one filtered objectively from our structured plant-care library, so the selection is consistent and checkable:

• Best drought-tolerant houseplants — Houseplants that prefer to dry out — forgiving of forgotten watering and ideal for travel or busy weeks.
• Best humidity-loving houseplants — Houseplants that thrive in a bathroom, kitchen, or by a humidifier — selected by documented humidity preference.
• Best houseplants for full sun — Houseplants that want direct sun — the species for a hot south or west-facing windowsill where shade-lovers scorch.
• Best fragrant houseplants — Indoor plants with scented flowers or aromatic foliage — greenery you can smell, selected from our care library.
• Browse all 29 plant shortlists — pet-safe, low-light, drought-tolerant and more

Related guides

Tamanu is also known as Tamanu, Alexandrian Laurel, Beach Calophyllum, Poon Tree, and Kamani.

• Rambutan care — light, water and common problems
• Pulasan care — light, water and common problems
• Salak care — light, water and common problems
• All 8452 plant care guides in the Growli library