Pau D’Arco

(Handroanthus impetiginosus / Tabebuia impetiginosa)

Basic Identification

Common Names
Pau d’arco
Taheebo
Lapacho
Purple lapacho
Ipe roxo

Botanical Name
Handroanthus impetiginosus

Synonyms:
Tabebuia impetiginosa
Tabebuia avellanedae

Plant Family
Bignoniaceae

Parts Used

• Inner bark (primary medicinal part)

The medicinal material is harvested from the inner bark layer, not the outer bark or wood.

Habitat and Native Range

Pau d’arco is native to:
• South America
• especially Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and surrounding tropical regions

It grows primarily in:
• tropical forests
• subtropical woodland regions
• humid lowland forests

Pau d’arco trees grow best in:
• warm tropical climates
• well-drained soils
• regions with seasonal rainfall
• sunny forest openings and woodland environments

Pau d’arco is a large hardwood tree known for its striking pink to purple trumpet-shaped flowers. Some species are highly valued both medicinally and commercially for their dense durable wood.

Overview

Pau d’arco is a traditional South American medicinal bark widely used for immune support, microbial balance, inflammatory conditions, and chronic stagnant tissue states. It is especially valued in herbal traditions for its broad-spectrum antimicrobial reputation and its historical use in formulas designed to address fungal, bacterial, and inflammatory imbalance patterns.

Unlike gentle soothing herbs, pau d’arco is generally considered a stronger alterative-style herb with deeper systemic actions aimed at restoring balance in chronically irritated or stagnant conditions. It is often associated with long-term constitutional support rather than rapid symptomatic relief.

Pau d’arco is particularly useful in patterns involving chronic inflammation, microbial imbalance, damp stagnation, fungal overgrowth tendencies, and sluggish immune function.

Its rich content of naphthoquinones and other phenolic compounds has attracted significant modern research interest, especially regarding antimicrobial and inflammatory-modulating activity.

Basic Uses

Pau d’arco is commonly used for:

• Microbial and fungal balance support
• Chronic inflammatory conditions
• Immune system support
• Candida and yeast overgrowth formulas
• Chronic damp or stagnant tissue states
• Skin irritation associated with microbial imbalance
• Digestive microbial imbalance patterns
• General alterative and detoxification-style protocols
• Respiratory and mucosal inflammatory support
• Long-term constitutional wellness formulas

Botanical Description / Morphology

Growth Habit

Large tropical hardwood tree, typically growing 60–100 feet tall, with a broad canopy and upright trunk.

Pau d’arco species are slow-growing long-lived trees valued for both medicinal bark and extremely dense durable wood.

Trunk & Bark

• Thick sturdy trunk
• Gray to brown outer bark
• Rough, furrowed, and rugged texture

The medicinal inner bark lies beneath the outer bark layer.

Inner bark color ranges from:
• reddish-brown
• tan
• cinnamon-colored

depending on species and processing.

Branches

• Strong spreading branch structure
• Broad rounded canopy in mature trees

Leaves

Arrangement: Opposite

Shape: Palmately compound leaves with multiple leaflets

Leaflets:
• Oval to lance-shaped
• Smooth-edged or slightly toothed
• Dark green upper surface

Texture: Leathery and firm

Venation

• Prominent branching venation visible within leaflets

Flowers

Type: Trumpet-shaped flowering clusters

Color:
• Pink
• Purple
• Lavender
• Occasionally white depending on species

Blooming often occurs dramatically before full leaf emergence, making the trees highly visible when flowering.

Roots

• Deep woody root system adapted to tropical forest environments

Key Identifying Features

• Large tropical hardwood tree
• Thick furrowed bark
• Palmately compound leaves
• Bright pink or purple trumpet-shaped flowers
• Dense heavy wood
• Medicinal reddish-brown inner bark layer

Similar Species / Lookalikes

• Other Tabebuia or Handroanthus species
→ many closely related ornamental trumpet trees resemble medicinal pau d’arco species

• Jacaranda species
→ similar flowering appearance but different medicinal properties and leaf structure

• Various tropical hardwood trees
→ may resemble pau d’arco when not flowering

Correct species identification is especially important in commerce because multiple related species may be sold under the common name “pau d’arco” or “lapacho.”

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