Hevea brasiliensis, commonly known as Rubber Tree, is an evergreen tree native to the rainforests of the Amazon Basin and other tropical areas in South America. In its natural habitat, it thrives in hot, humid conditions along riverbanks and in lowland tropical forests, where it plays a crucial role in the ecosystem. Mature trees in the wild can reach up to 43 meters (141 feet), but when cultivated for latex production, they are kept smaller to optimize yield. The Rubber Tree has a cylindrical trunk that may exhibit a swollen, bottle-shaped base, an adaptation to its native wet environments.

The Rubber Tree is valued for its production of latex, which is the primary source of natural rubber, a vital industrial commodity. The tree’s flowers are small, with separate male and female flowers on the same tree (monoecious). They are creamy-yellow, pungent, and lack petals. The fruit is a large, three-lobed capsule that explosively dehisces to release the seeds. In cultivation, the Rubber Tree requires full sun and consistent moisture, but it is adaptable to a range of soil drainage conditions. It is not typically grown for ornamental purposes due to its large size and the specialized nature of rubber harvesting. However, it can be used in reforestation projects and large-scale landscaping in suitable climates. Challenges in cultivation include vulnerability to leaf blight, South American leaf blight being the most devastating, and the need for careful management to prevent soil depletion.CC BY-SA 4.0