Mesua ferrea (Sri Lankan Ironwood, Indian Rose Chestnut, Cobra's Saffron)
Botanical Information
| Family | Calophyllaceae |
| Genus | Mesua |
| Species | ferrea |
| Category | Tropicals, Woody |
| Type | Tree (evergreen) |
| Origin | Eastern and Southern Asia. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses Disclaimer | National tree of Sri Lanka and state flower of Tripura and Mizoram. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 11 - 13 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cold seasons protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H1a - H1c |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | 4 - 45 |
| Temperature (°F) | 39.2 - 113 |
| Height | Over 30 m |
| Growth | Slow |
Description and Growing Information
| Landscape | Best suited for ornamental use due to the graceful shape and attractive foliage and flowers. |
| Cultivation | Best grown in full sun to partial shade with well-drained soil. |
| Notable Specimens | Sakunothayan Botanic Garden, Wang Tong, Phitsanulok, Thailand |
| Habitat | Wet tropical areas. |
| Bark/Stem Description | Bark brown with irregularly large flaky peelings. |
| Flower/Leaf Bud Description | The flowers are 4 – 7.5 cm diameter, with four white petals and a centre of numerous yellow stamens. |
| Leaf Description | Simple, narrow, oblong, oblong to lanceolate. Leaves are 7 – 15 cm long. |
| Flower Description | Large and fragrant. |
| Fruit Description | Wrinkled when ripe. Resembles a chestnut. Berry, ovoid to globose, apiculate, striate, 1-4 seeded. |
| Colour Description | Bark is ashy grey. Foliage is blue-grey to dark green. Flowers are white. |
Photographs
Mesua ferrea, Form
Mesua ferrea, Leaf
