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The menace of the Damas tree

On the outside, the Damas tree (Conocarpus lancifolius) is perennially green, provides excellent foliage to your garden, is inexpensive and in some cases acts as a visual barrier, because they tend to hide your house from plain sight.

However, the Damas tree is being called a ‘menace’ in several residential areas across Dubai. Damas trees are said to be causing damage to the underground piping systems, drains, walls and swimming pools in residential areas.

Several hundreds of these trees grow in communities like the Arabian Ranches, the Meadows, The Greens, the Springs, and The Lakes.

“The roots of this tree are what causes the trouble. It only requires a tiny gap for it to grow,” said Promod Kumar, a gardener from Orient Irrigation and Landscaping Services. “Chopping the tree off does not help, either, because it starts growing over the chopped stump. The only way to get rid of the tree is to uproot it,” he added. The trees measure 15cms in width and grows up to more than 15 metres in height.

Due to the high risk of damage caused by the tree’s extensive root network, landscaping experts are advising residents to remove the trees from the gardens. The roots often spread and pipes get broken and walls get damaged. “Swimming pools get filled with leaves and our DEWA bills go up,” added Kumar. Also, the tree tends to absorb nutrients from the soil, which prevents other plants from growing. The trees also serve as a breeding ground for insects and smaller reptiles. He said that though the uprooting process can cause considerable damage to the tile work in residential houses, it is best that the trees are removed.

Sheila Rajeev, a resident in the Arabian Ranches said: “I noticed that the roots of the Damas trees’ from my neighbour’s house were breaking through the boundary walls of my villa. Now the boundary wall around my villa has a huge crack with the roots of the Damas tree growing into my garden.” However, Justin Crowley, a resident at The Springs said that the Damas trees do not worry him. Crowley’s villa has about three to four of the Damas trees.

He said: “My gardener takes care of our garden. He chops off over grown branches every once in a while. So far the trees have not caused me any kind of trouble. I’ve noticed a few salamanders in the gardens, but my kids enjoy seeing the reptiles crawl about.”

To rid the housing communities off the Damas menace, Emaar Community Management launched a ‘Protect Your Home from Damas Tree Disaster Campaign’ in their residential properties. The campaign will be launched today and will continue till October 22.

The Dubai Civic Service Authority is also ready to provide any assistance or advise to realty developers in Dubai to root out the Damas tree, said Ahmad Abdul Karim, Director of Public Parks and Horticulture Department, Dubai Municipality. “Dubai Municipality has launched an anti-Damas tree campaign following several complaints lodged by residents on the harm caused by the plant,” said Karim.

Acting on the complaints, the department has removed many of these trees. “The removal is costly and requires heavy machinery and enormous effort,” he stated. The trees will be chopped or uprooted only after permission from house owners, added Karim.

He added that the Damas can be replaced with trees’ like the Geranium, Pink Trumpet Tree, Bottlebrush, and Neem.

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