Trees of Argentina: The Complete List

Argentina’s landscapes—from humid Mesopotamia and the Gran Chaco to the Andean slopes and Patagonian plains—support a wide variety of tree species. A quick, region-focused list makes it easier to see which trees are tied to particular provinces, climates and uses, whether you’re planning a planting project or just exploring local nature.

There are 40 Trees of Argentina, ranging from Aguaribay, Ñire and spanning subtropical lowlands to cool southern woods. For each entry you’ll find below the Scientific name,Height (m),Main region/provinces to help with identification, size expectations and where to look in the country.

How were the 40 species selected?

They were chosen to represent a mix of native and well-established trees across Argentina’s main regions, emphasizing species that are commonly referenced in regional floras, forestry guides and conservation lists; the goal is practical coverage rather than an exhaustive botanical inventory.

What are quick field tips to identify these trees?

Focus on a few reliable traits—leaf type and arrangement, bark texture, fruit or seed structures and typical habitat (altitude, province, moisture). Use the Scientific name,Height (m),Main region/provinces info below to narrow possibilities and confirm with local guides or photos.

Trees of Argentina

Images and Descriptions

Ombú

Massive, broad-stemmed tree of the Pampas with swollen base, soft fibrous trunk and large evergreen leaves. Native to lowland Argentina, reaches around 15 m. Iconic roadside shade tree used historically for shelter and cultural symbolism; not true hardwood.

Quebracho colorado

Massive, dense hardwood tree of the Gran Chaco known for heavy, tannin-rich wood and blocky trunk. Native and long-harvested for timber, charcoal and tannin. Reaches about 30 m. Conservation concerns due to historical overexploitation and habitat loss.

Quebracho blanco

Hardwood tree of the dry Chaco and Chaqueño forests with pale, durable timber used for construction and rails. Native, typically reaching 20 m. Recognizable by small pinnate leaves and winged fruit; valued locally for fuel and timber, threatened by clearing.

Algarrobo blanco

Leguminous, thorny tree of dry plains and quebracho forests producing sweet pods eaten by livestock and used for flour. Native, usually up to 12 m. Deep roots fix nitrogen; important for agroforestry, honey production, and erosion control.

Algarrobo negro

Large prosopis tree of Mesopotamia with darker wood and dense crown, producing nutritious pods for livestock and traditional foods. Native, reaches about 18 m. Valued for timber, charcoal and shade; tolerates seasonal flooding along riverine forests.

Caldén

Wind-sculpted, thorny tree of the Argentine Monte and central Pampas with thick, twisted trunk and small pinnate leaves. Native, usually under 10 m. Crucial for xeric ecosystems, providing shade, forage and dense hardwood used locally for fuel and craft.

Espinillo

Small thorny tree with fragrant yellow flowers, common in arid and disturbed lands across central Argentina. Native, up to 8 m. Produces pods for livestock, important for pollinators and beekeeping; often used as living fence and fuelwood.

Tipuana

Fast-growing, ornamental legume with a broad canopy and yellow pea-like flowers; extensively planted in cities for shade. Introduced from South America, naturalized in parts of Argentina, reaching 20 m. Wood used for fuel; invasive in some riparian areas.

Jacarandá

Iconic ornamental with lavender-blue trumpet flowers in spring, fern-like leaves and smooth trunk. Introduced from Bolivia/Brazil, widely planted in Argentine cities; reaches about 12 m. Valued for street planting and dramatic seasonal blooms.

Ceibo

Striking small tree with red, coral-shaped flowers and thorny branches; national flower of Argentina. Native to wetlands and river margins, reaching around 8 m. Used ornamentally and providing food for birds, but vulnerable in some areas due to habitat loss.

Palo borracho

Bottle-trunked tree with pink to white showy flowers and spiny trunk; native to northeastern Argentina. Reaches around 20 m. Used in urban landscapes for striking flowers and shade, seeds produce floss used for stuffing.

Palo santo

Fragrant hardwood tree of the Gran Chaco with dense, resinous timber used for incense, oils and carving. Native, typically around 10 m. Overharvested and now protected in parts of its range with significant conservation concern.

Lenga

Cold-tolerant deciduous beech of Andean forests forming pure stands at timberline; smooth bark and small serrated leaves. Native, reaching 25 m. Important for timber, recreation and mountain ecosystems; sensitive to fire and climate change.

Ñire

Small deciduous Nothofagus with gnarled form, thin serrated leaves and smooth grey bark. Native to Patagonian steppe and forests, usually under 12 m. Tolerant of cold and wind; used in restoration and as windbreaks.

Coihue

Large evergreen beech of Andean temperate rainforests with glossy leaves and buttressed trunk. Native, reaching up to 35 m. Valued for strong timber and dense canopy; forms majestic old-growth forests but fragmented by logging and land-use change.

Pehuén

Ancient, spiky conifer with horizontal branches and edible seeds (piñones); culturally important to Mapuche people. Native to Andean slopes, reaching 40 m. Protected and often threatened by logging, wildfires and habitat loss.

Lapacho

Deciduous tree famous for spectacular pink to purple spring blooms and hard, durable timber. Native to northeastern forests, reaching about 15 m. Used ornamentally and for timber; flowers attract pollinators and are culturally celebrated.

Aguaribay

Graceful, aromatic tree with pinnate leaves and drooping clusters of pink peppercorn-like fruits. Introduced from the Andes but widely naturalized; reaches about 12 m. Used for shade, windbreaks, and medicinal or culinary uses.

Tala

Sturdy, small- to medium-sized tree with rough bark and pubescent leaves, common in dry woodlands and pastureland. Native, up to 10 m. Produces small edible fruits consumed by birds; used for fence posts, fuel and restoration.

Ciprés de la cordillera

Patagonian conifer with reddish bark and brittle foliage, forming pure stands in Andean valleys. Native, usually up to 20 m. Wood historically used locally; populations impacted by logging, fire and grazing, important for mountain biodiversity.

Arrayán

Smooth-barked evergreen tree with cinnamon-colored peeling bark, fragrant white flowers and small edible berries. Native to Patagonian river valleys and lakeshores, reaching about 12 m. Widely admired in national parks and used ornamentally.

Alerce

Long-lived, slow-growing conifer with thick, reddish bark and durable timber; one of the world’s longest-lived trees. Native to Andean temperate rainforests, reaching up to 40 m. Critically valued and protected due to past intense logging.

Aliso

Deciduous alder of Andean valleys with serrated leaves and catkins; fast-growing and nitrogen-fixing. Native in montane forests, reaches about 20 m. Used for riverbank stabilization, reforestation and light timber; tolerates damp soils.

Caranday

Stiff fan-palm forming solitary trunk with spiny leaf bases and fibrous skirt. Native to northeastern pampas and wetlands, reaching about 8 m. Used for thatching, craft and ornamental planting; tolerant of drought and occasional flooding.

Pindó

Elegant feather-palm with smooth trunk and arching fronds, producing edible fruits. Native to northeastern Argentina, often seen in parks and natural forests, reaching about 15 m. Widely planted ornamentally and valued for landscape use.

Sauce criollo

Fast-growing riparian willow with narrow leaves, flexible stems and pendulous branches. Native along Argentine waterways, usually around 15 m. Important for bank stabilization, shade and woodcraft; commonly planted in agroecosystems and river restorations.

Álamo

Fast-growing poplar with triangular leaves often white-backed and rough bark, widely planted for windbreaks and timber. Introduced but naturalized along waterways, reaching 20 m. Useful for quick shade and erosion control, but can be invasive.

Eucalyptus globulus

Fast-growing Australian gum widely planted in Argentina for timber, pulp and shelter. Reaches about 35 m. Provides quick economic returns but raises concerns about water use, fire risk and impacts on native biodiversity where it replaces native forests.

Pino radiata

Introduced pine used extensively in commercial forestry for fast-growing timber and paper pulp. Reaches about 30 m. Economically important but can alter soil and fire regimes; plantation management widespread in Patagonia and mesophytic zones.

Higuera

Edible fig tree long cultivated in Argentina’s dry valleys, producing sweet fruit and thick lobed leaves. Naturalized in gardens and riverine spots, reaching about 8 m. Valuable for domestic orchards and local markets.

Olivo

Mediterranean fruit tree extensively cultivated in Cuyo provinces for olives and oil. Introduced and long-established, reaching about 10 m. Deep cultural and economic significance; drought-tolerant and central to regional agro-industries.

Yerba mate

Shade-tolerant, evergreen tree producing leaves used to brew mate, an iconic Argentine beverage. Native to Mesopotamia rainforests, reaches about 10 m. Cultivated in plantations and wild stands; its management shapes local livelihoods and forest structure.

Mistol

Gnarled, drought-resistant tree of the dry Chaco with small edible fruit used in traditional foods and drinks. Native, reaches around 8 m. Dense wood used for tool handles and fuel; culturally significant in rural diets.

Chañar

Hardy, thorny tree of arid northwestern Argentina producing sweet orange-yellow fruits used for jam, syrup and traditional medicine. Native, about 10 m tall. Valuable for honey production, fodder and soil stabilization in drylands.

Algarrobo dulce

Small to medium native prosopis of arid Monte and Prepuna with sweet pods eaten by humans and animals. Reaches about 10 m. Deep roots help forage, soil stabilization and traditional uses; valued in arid agroecosystems.

Quebracho chaqueño

Heavy, tannin-rich hardwood forming dense stands in the Gran Chaco; deeply furrowed bark and small leaves. Native, up to 25 m. Historically overexploited for tannin and timber; significant ecological and conservation value remains.

Álamo negro

Introduced poplar species used in windbreaks, timber and quick-growth plantations. Reaches about 25 m with rough bark and triangular leaves. Widely planted and naturalized along waterways, important for short-rotation forestry.

Aroeira

Fast-growing ornamental originally from Brazil producing dense clusters of red berries; widely naturalized and invasive in wet subtropical areas. Reaches about 10 m. Crowds native vegetation but used locally for ornamental and windbreak purposes.

Manzano

Introduced fruit tree forming compact orchard trees producing apples; cornerstone of Río Negro fruit industry. Grafted and cultivated, typically ~6 m in mature size. Vital for regional economies and agroexport in Patagonia and Cuyo.

Plátano

Large, tolerant urban plane tree with mottled bark and broad leaves, widely planted along avenues in Argentine cities. Introduced hybrid, reaching about 30 m. Popular for shade and street planting though root and litter issues occur.

Trees in Other Countries