Delonix regia (Royal Poinciana or Flamboyant Tree)


Michael's Opinion

One of the more common but yet spectacular trees found throughout the tropical regions where it has become a popular landscape tree, and rightly so.

Botanical Information

FamilyFabaceae
GenusDelonix
Speciesregia
CategoryTropicals
TypeTree (deciduous)
OriginNative to Madagascar.

Details

USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Height15 m
Spread10 m
GrowthFast
Flowering PeriodMay, June, July

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionA flat topped, broad spreading tree, covered in a mass of orange blooms, followed by very long, flat, heavy pods.
ShapeFlat topped but quite broad spreading.
CultivationWhere root growth is restricted the tree will remain smaller.
Bark/Stem DescriptionGrey relatively smooth.
Leaf DescriptionDoubly compound, fern-like, light green in colour with very small leaflets. Often deciduous in the winter months.
Flower DescriptionFive petaled, orange red with red centres, produced 'en masse', covering the entire tree at peak bloom and emerging before the leaves in the spring.
Fruit DescriptionThe pods are flat, 4 cm wide and up to 80 cm long, black to brown and containing many large black seeds. They are quite heavy and may persist on the tree for some time, even following leaf drop.

Photographs