The natural distribution of teak covers discontinuous regions in South and Southeast Asia. These regions are located within the total area of tropical summer-rain climate characterized by distinct rainy and dry seasons. The successful teak plantations are found in discontinuous areas with fertile soils, which are intrazonal and azonal soils derived from limestones, base-rich igneous rocks and alluvial materials. The discontinuous distribution of natural forests and plantations of teak is attributed to the discontinuous occurrence of suitable intrazonal and azonal soils. The dominant trees of natural forests in zonal soil areas under the same climate are deciduous dipterocarp species. The optimum soil conditions for teak growth include good drainage, deep subsoil, slightly acid to alkaline pH and abundance of bases, especially Ca. Emphasis is placed on yield tables and site quality maps for the efficient management of plantations, and on plant indicator methods such as trial planting and plant indicators for site selection.