Anadenanthera falcata is a small tree species whose timber is used in construction and furniture and also as poles and railway sleepers. Habitat fragmentation is the main threat to the maintenance of natural populations of this species. In this situation, ex situ conservation strategies are necessary. This study presents estimations of genetic variation for silvicultural traits in a progeny test of A. falcata at nine and 17 years-old, established in the municipality of Assis, São Paulo state–Brazil, for the purpose of ex situ conservation. Significant differences between progenies were detected only for total height, this being largest at age 17th. The average heritability among progenies was higher at 17 (0.76) than at nine years of age (0.33). The genetic correlation for height between nine and 17 years old was high. This means that the genetic differences among progenies were maintained over the years. Therefore, early selection for this trait would have been effective.