Citharexylum caudatum is an evergreen shrub or a tree; it can grow 5 - 20 metres tall. The bole can be 20cm in diameter.
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use of its wood, It is often grown as an ornamental, and is a popular street tree in some areas.
Habitat: Upper mountain forests and dwarf forests of mountain peaks in Puerto Rico. Woods and thickets in Panama.Prefers a sunny position. Grows best in relatively moist soils.
Often grown as an ornamental, it is a prolific producer of seeds and these seeds can be widely dispersed by birds. This has led to the plant escaping from cultivation. It can form thickets, especially in wet habitats and lowland forests, where it displaces existing native vegetation. It has been declared to be invasive in Hawaii.
The plant can flower and produce fruit all year round. The light-brown wood is hard. It is used for fence posts. The wood is used for fuel.
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