Balsa Tree

The lightest commercial wood in the world. So light that its name means "raft" in Spanish. It is one of the fastest-growing trees in the tropics and its wood floats like cork.

Ochroma pyramidale, balsa or balso, is a pioneer tree in the Malvaceae family famous for producing the world's lightest wood. Its density is barely 100-200 kg/m³—about five times less than pine—making it ideal for models, surfboards, floats, and thermal and acoustic insulation. It grows extremely fast: it can reach 20 meters in just 5-7 years. Its large white trumpet-shaped flowers are pollinated by bats and open at dusk. It is one of the first trees to colonize clearings in the Panamanian jungle, preparing the ground for other species.

Habitat

Secondary forests, clearings, and river edges in lowlands throughout Panama