Balitbitan
Cynometra ramiflora
A native evergreen shade tree with a rounded, umbrella-shaped crown and pink new leaves that hang in drooping tassels. Balitbitan grows wild along the landward edge of mangroves and on riverbanks, so it handles brackish, coastal ground that many shade trees can't. We supply it nursery-grown in bags, from 8 ft to 16 ft.
Quick answer: Balitbitan (Cynometra ramiflora) is a native Philippine evergreen shade tree with an umbrella-shaped crown and pink drooping new leaves. Balitbitan grows wild at mangrove edges and on riverbanks,3 so it suits resorts near rivers and estuaries. Halamanan supplies nursery-grown Balitbitan at ₱2,800 (8-10 ft) and ₱4,200 (11-16 ft) per tree as of November 2026, with a 20-tree minimum.
Pricing Guide (per tree)
| Size / Spec | Price (PHP) |
|---|---|
| Standard, 8-10 ft | ₱2,800 |
| Large, 11-16 ft | ₱4,200 |
Final pricing depends on project volume, delivery location, and current supply. Get a project-specific quote for accurate pricing.
- Minimum order: 20 trees, and mixing species from our list to reach it is fine
- Lead time: about 1 week from confirmed order
- Prices are tree only. Delivery and planting are quoted per project.
- Caliper is the trunk width measured 6 inches above the soil.
- Prices updated: November 2026
About Balitbitan
Balitbitan (Cynometra ramiflora) is a native medium-sized evergreen tree with a rounded, umbrella-shaped crown. Balitbitan's most striking feature is the new growth: young leaves come out pink, beige or pale yellow and hang in drooping tassels before turning green.1 On a mature tree, a fresh flush can make the whole crown look like it's flowering.
Balitbitan's real flowers are small and yellowish white.2 The fruit is a hard, wrinkled brown pod, 2 to 4 cm long,2 which is where its English name, wrinkle pod mangrove, comes from.
In the wild, Balitbitan grows along the inner, landward fringe of mangrove forests and inland along rivers, up to about 500 m elevation.3 In the Philippines it's used as a roadside and garden tree for its shade.1 DENR officials have planted Balitbitan at the Iloilo Esplanade, along the Iloilo River, as part of a public tree-planting program.4
Common Applications
- Shade trees for resorts and estates near mangroves, rivers and estuaries
- Riverside walks, esplanades and boardwalks
- Second-row coastal planting, behind a frontline of Bitaog or Agoho
- Roadside and avenue planting where a rounded, evergreen crown is wanted
- Feature tree where the pink new leaves can be seen up close
Why Developers and Resorts Choose It
- It's native and uncommon. Few landscape suppliers offer Balitbitan, so it sets a planting scheme apart.
- It handles brackish ground. Balitbitan's natural home is the edge of mangrove forest.3
- It stays green. Balitbitan is evergreen, so it doesn't go bare in the dry season.
- It looks good up close. The pink tasselled flushes give Balitbitan seasonal color without relying on flowers.
- It counts toward native-species requirements. Balitbitan is listed as Least Concern, so there are no threatened-species questions.1
Specifications
- Botanical name
- Cynometra ramiflora
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Local names
- Balitbitan, Oringen. Called wrinkle pod mangrove in English.2
- Native range
- India and Sri Lanka through Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, to northern Australia and the Pacific5
- Conservation status
- Least Concern1
- Sizes we supply
- 8-10 ft and 11-16 ft
- Crown
- Rounded, umbrella-shaped
- Foliage
- Evergreen, with pink to pale yellow drooping new leaves
- Sun
- Full sun to light shade
- Soil
- Moist, including brackish ground near mangroves and riverbanks
- Salt tolerance
- Moderate to high. Tolerates brackish soil at mangrove edges. Direct beach salt spray isn't documented.
- Pool safe
- Not ideal right beside a pool. Balitbitan drops hard pods.
- Setback from structures
- At least 4 m from buildings and paving
Coastal Planting: Where Balitbitan Fits
| Zone | What it faces | Balitbitan |
|---|---|---|
| Frontline | Direct salt spray and wind off the water | Sheltered shores and mangrove edges: yes. Open surf beaches: not proven. |
| Second row | Behind a building, wall or first row of trees | Yes |
| Inland | No salt spray | Yes |
The usual coastal mix: Bitaog and Agoho in front to take the salt and wind, with Balitbitan behind them for denser shade.
A note on typhoons
We haven’t found reliable data on how Balitbitan performs in typhoons. Its wood is very dense and heavy,3 but dense wood alone doesn’t guarantee a tree stays standing. On exposed sites, stake Balitbitan for the first year and prune early for a strong central trunk.
Planting & Establishment
Site preparation
- Dig the hole 2 to 3 times wider than the bag and no deeper than the root ball.
- Mix in compost on sandy or poor soil. Balitbitan prefers ground that stays moist.
- Near mangroves or rivers, check that the spot doesn’t flood for days at a time.
Planting
- Remove the bag carefully without breaking the root ball.
- Set the tree so the top of the root ball sits level with the ground.
- Backfill, firm the soil and water deeply.
- Stake on exposed sites.
First year care
- Water 2 to 3 times a week for the first month, then weekly through the dry season.
- Mulch around the base, keeping it off the trunk.
We handle supply, delivery, planting and staking as one job if you need it.
Ongoing Maintenance
- Pruning: Formative pruning in the first 2 to 3 years to shape the Balitbitan crown.
- Fertilizing: Light feeding at the start of the wet season. As a legume, Balitbitan needs little.
- Pod drop: Expect hard pods under the crown. Plan for cleanup around paths.
We plant and install this
Halamanan supplies and installs Balitbitan as part of our landscape design and landscape construction projects. We source the plants, place them in the design, and plant them with the rest of the garden.
Sourcing & Supply
Origin
Our Balitbitan is nursery-grown in bags. It isn't collected from the wild.
Quality Control
Every tree is checked for form and root ball condition before it leaves the nursery. For orders of 20 or more, we send photos of the batch before delivery.
How to Order
- 1
Inquiry to Quote
Send us your specs and project size. We respond with a project-specific quote within 24 hours.
- 2
Site Visit / Spec Confirmation
For larger projects, we coordinate a site visit or spec call to confirm requirements.
- 3
Order Confirmation + Deposit
50% deposit confirms your order. Established institutional accounts may qualify for net terms.
- 4
Production / Sourcing & Delivery
We coordinate sourcing, production, and delivery. Final payment due on delivery.
- Response time
- We respond within 4 business hours.
- Payment terms
- 50/50 standard. Net terms available for established institutional accounts.
- Documentation
- Sales Invoice, Delivery Receipt, COA-compliant documentation on request.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Balitbitan tree cost in the Philippines?
A Balitbitan tree costs ₱2,800 at 8-10 ft (1.5 in. caliper, 12 in. bag) and ₱4,200 at 11-16 ft (2-2.5 in. caliper, 18 in. bag), as of November 2026. Prices are tree only. Delivery and planting are quoted per project.
Is Balitbitan native to the Philippines?
Is Balitbitan a mangrove?
Not quite. Balitbitan grows on the inner, landward edge of mangrove forests and along rivers,3 which is why it's sometimes called wrinkle pod mangrove. It doesn't need to stand in seawater.
Why are Balitbitan's new leaves pink?
That's normal. Balitbitan pushes out new leaves in drooping pink, beige or pale yellow tassels that turn green as they mature.1 It isn't a disease or a deficiency.
Can Balitbitan be planted by the beach?
Behind the beach, yes. Balitbitan does well near mangroves, rivers and estuaries.3 For open surf beaches with heavy salt spray, plant Bitaog or Agoho in front of it.
Does Balitbitan give good shade?
Yes. Balitbitan's rounded, umbrella-shaped evergreen crown is why it's planted as a roadside and garden shade tree.1
What's the minimum order for Balitbitan?
Balitbitan orders start at 20 trees. You can mix Balitbitan with other species on our list to reach the 20.
How long does Balitbitan delivery take?
Balitbitan delivery takes about 1 week from confirmed order, depending on your location.
What does your 30-day establishment guarantee cover?
The 30-day establishment guarantee covers nursery-side failures on every Balitbitan tree we supply. If a properly installed tree (planted by us or per our written planting protocol) fails within 30 days because of root ball damage, undisclosed disease or transport stress, we replace it free. Failures from improper post-planting care, weather events or vandalism are not covered.
Sources
- Balitbitan tree description. UPLB PASEO Project (CHED iEducation). https://ieducationphl.ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Balitbitan-UPLB-PASEO-Project-Trees-Description.pdf ↩
- Oringen / Balitbitan: Cynometra ramiflora. StuartXchange. https://stuartxchange.com/Oringen ↩
- Cynometra ramiflora. PROSEA (Plant Resources of South-East Asia). https://prosea.prota4u.org/view.aspx?id=3436 ↩
- Balitbitan planting at the Iloilo Esplanade. DENR. https://denr.gov.ph/?p=9721 ↩
- Plants of the World Online: Cynometra ramiflora. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:489480-1 ↩
Ready to spec Balitbitan for your project?
Send us your project details. We respond within 4 business hours.