Recognize teak by its very large opposite leaves, usually oval to broadly elliptic, often 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm) long, on stout square young stems.
Mature trees also show a straight trunk and broad terminal clusters of many small white flowers held above the foliage.
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Check the leaves, branching, and flower clusters on Tectona grandis.
A mature tree also shows a straight trunk with gray-brown bark that becomes fissured.
Tectona grandis shows clear visual shifts from broad-leaved sapling to tall flowering tree.
In the dry season, Tectona grandis often becomes briefly deciduous, shedding its very large leaves and leaving stout, widely spaced branches exposed. In summer, large branched clusters of small pale flowers become conspicuous at branch tips. Later, rounded fruits develop and may persist after leaf drop, adding another seasonal clue.
A few large tropical trees can be mistaken for teak at a glance.
African teak(Milicia excelsa)
Both are tall timber trees with broad simple leaves. African teak usually has smaller, firmer leaves with a rougher surface, while Tectona grandis has much larger, soft, felted leaves and more obvious opposite leaf pairs.
beechwood or gamhar(Gmelina arborea)
This species also has opposite, broad leaves and a straight trunk, so young trees are sometimes confused. Gamhar leaves are commonly more heart-shaped and less velvety, and its yellow flowers are showier than teak’s small pale flower clusters.
Tectona grandis is native to South and Southeast Asia, especially India, Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand. In the wild it occurs in tropical deciduous forests, often in areas with a marked dry season. That setting helps with identification because teak is more likely in seasonally dry inland forest than in rainforest, mangroves, or swampy ground. Wild populations are commonly found from lowlands into foothills, roughly to about 3,300 feet (1,000 m).
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The standout trait is its very large, opposite leaves, often rough above and softly hairy beneath. Mature leaves can reach about 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm) long, which helps with identifying teak.
Identify a plant from a photo with Botan, then get species-specific care information, safety notes, and common problems.
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