Teak is a tropical tree that is grown for its high quality lumber but it is also grown as an ornamental because it has large leaves and it gives a tropical appearance to the landscape. It is a tall deciduous tree that typically grows to 150' tall in its native habitat, but to about 80' in cultivation. It is native to India, Burma, Southeast Asia, Malaysia, and Indonesia, but is now planted in tropical to sub-tropical areas throughout the globe, not only for ornamental reasons but also in plantations for commercial timber production. Timber from this tree is an important tropical wood (at or near the top of the list of world hardwoods). Teak trees feature: (a) trunks with scaly gray to gray-brown bark topped by an open crown of spreading branches, (b) large, rough, leathery, ovate-elliptic, green leaves (to 18-30" long) which are covered by gray-green stellate hairs, (c) fragrant, finely-pubescent, white flowers which bloom in summer (June-August) in large terminal panicles to 16" long, (d) globose, finely pubescent fruits (to 2/3" diameter) enclosed in egg-shaped calyxes which mature from September to December, and (e) dark yellow trunk wood which turns an attractive deep brown when exposed to sunlight and air. Teak wood is hard, durable, fine-grained, resistant to decay if exposed to moisture and of attractive deep brown color. Teak wood is used in a variety of ways, including (a) for outdoor purposes, it is used in the manufacture of outdoor furniture, boat building, doors and window frames, and (b) for indoor purposes, it is used for flooring, fine furniture and veneer. Teak is the national tree of Indonesia. Winter hardy to USDA Zones 10-12 where it is best grown in acidic, fertile, sandy, moist, well-drained soils in full sun. Tolerates a wide range of soils. Established trees have good drought tolerance.