Candle Nut Tree (Aleurites moluccanus)

The Candle Nut Tree (Aleurites moluccanus) is a large, handsome, fast-growing tropical tree with distinctive silvery-grey-green, lobed leaves that shimmer beautifully in sunlight, creating a striking contrast in any landscape. It is native to Southeast Asia but has naturalized widely across tropical regions. Its round, hard-shelled nuts contain a rich oil historically used for candles and torches (hence its name). As a landscape tree, it provides a spectacular, large, wide-spreading canopy for shade and is an eye-catching ornamental specimen for spacious gardens.