Our New Fast-Growing Mixture

    We have received many requests for a fast growing mixture that ideally would include teak, so that tree owners can enjoy diversification, rapid growth, and the high value of teak.

    That is what we have accomplished in our new Supra Mixture.  Over the last twelve years, we have observed the growth of all of the species we are growing and, together with our forester, have selected five of our fastest-growing species of tropical hardwoods to combine into a new mixed planting that achieves all of these objectives - fast growth, diversification, and wonderful value of the hardwoods. 

    Our Supra Mixture consists of approximately equal quantities of each of these five beautiful tropical hardwood species - mangium, gmelina, nargusta, suradan, and teak.  All five species share the rare combination of characteristics of growing rapidly and producing beautiful tropical hardwoods. 

    Teak (Tectona grandis) needs no introduction.  It is known throughout the world as a highly prized tropical hardwood of high value.  Teak is fast growing and we now know that the young teak from early thinnings is beautiful.  Young teak is the primary species that Raleo, our sister company, utilizes in crafting the majority of its exquisite furnishings.  Once the teak trees have matured more and the teak wood has achieved the weather resistance that it is so highly prized for fine yacht decks and beautiful garden furniture, it reaches its true value.

    Mangium (Acacia mangium) is a fast growing tropical hardwood that we have been growing on our farms since 1993.  As we did our first early test cuttings of mangium, we found that the wood of the young mangium trees is a beautiful rich deep brown that has an iridescence that causes the color to appear to vary when you view the wood from different angles.  Young mangium logs also have a very high yield because the wood is nearly uniform in its beauty throughout the entire log, from bark to bark.  We have crafted exquisite furniture of the wood from 5-1/2 year old mangium trees.  In international trade, mangium is also sometimes referred to as Australian teak, even though it is not related to teak.  As an added benefit to its neighbors in the mixed planting, the mangium tree is leguminous, meaning that its roots fix nitrogen from the air and help the fertility of the soil and the growth of neighboring trees.

    Gmelina (Gmelina arborea) is another fast growing tropical hardwood that we have been growing on our farms since 1999.  Gmelina is a beautiful light cream color that has attracted attention whenever we have exhibited furnishings crafted of it.  Gmelina is also referred to as white teak although gmelina and teak are only distantly related - they are in the same family.  Gmelina, like many other beautiful woods, had been put to more mundane uses in the past but is now appearing in beautiful furnishings.  Raleo for example is presently crafting a beautiful $10,000 dining table of gmelina.   

    Nargusta (Terminalia amazonia) we also have been growing for many years.  It is a fast growing tree with highly decorative tropical hardwood.  The wood from the young nargusta tree is striking, nearly canary yellow.  As the tree matures, pink stripes appear throughout the wood, making adult nargusta even more decorative.  Nargusta is used for beautiful cabinetry, decorative trim, and furnishings.

    Suradan (Hyeronima alchorneoides) is another fast growing tree that we just love.  It quickly grows tall and straight and the wood from young suradan trees is a rare dusty rose color.  As the tree matures, the wood grows into a deep burgundy.  Suradan is another tropical hardwood that in the past was put to uses like railroad ties and has become more scarce from over-exploitation.  Now that its beauty is known, it is used in fine cabinetry, furnishings and veneer.  Young suradan logs have a high yield because the wood is uniform in its beauty throughout the log, nearly from bark to bark.
     

From top to bottom - teak, mangium, gmelina, nargusta and suradan, all growing on our farms and all 13 years old or younger.

    It is too soon to firmly predict, but our forester believes that the first thinning harvest of our new fast-growing Supra Mixture trees may be as early as 6 years and the final harvest may be as soon as 18 years.

    The mixed planting of our new Supra Mixture will also have the added benefit of being more natural for the birds and animals and will be adding a more mixed leaf litter to the soil under the trees, diversifying the organic nutrients in the soil.

    Call or e-mail to reserve your beautiful Supra Mixture trees today.