We evaluated the pontential architectural analysis of Cecropia pachystachya to estimate tree age and reconstruct growth history in the Brazilian Cerrado. By examining internode length, branch, and inflorescence scars, we employed a retrospective method developed for Amazonian species to date growth cycles in this seasonal environment. Variations in internode length facilitated annual delimitation, with individuals producing an average of 31.4 ± 4.8 nodes per year. Most trees were approximately six years old, aligning with farmer-reported land-use history. Growth analyses indicated a biannual pattern in internode production and flowering, likely influenced by solar insolation rather than rainfall. Branching exhibited weaker, supra-annual periodicity. Despite considerable inter-individual variability in C. pachystachya, internode length remained a reliable indicator of annual growth. These findings endorse architectural analysis as a cost-effective tool for ecological monitoring and estimating pioneer species age in landscapes impacted by swidden cultivation.