Caesalpinia ferrea (Leopard Tree, Brazilian Ironwood)
Botanical Information
| Family | Fabaceae |
| Genus | Caesalpinia |
| Species | ferrea |
| Synonyms | Libidibia ferrea |
| Category | Perennials, Tropicals |
| Type | Tree (deciduous) |
| Origin | Brazil. |
Details
| USDA Hardiness Zone | 10a-11 |
| USDA Hardiness Ref. | |
| Canadian Hardiness Zone | Requires cool season protection under glass. |
| Canada Hardiness Ref. | |
| RHS Hardiness Zone | H1c-H3 |
| RHS Hardiness Ref. | |
| Temperature (°C) | (-1.1) -10 |
| Temperature (°F) | 30-50 |
| Height | 8-12 m |
| Growth | Medium |
| Flowering Period | January, February, March, December |
Description and Growing Information
| ID Characteristic | Named Leopard Tree for its beautifully bark which has a leopard-like pattern in different shades of grey and brown. |
| Landscape | Should not be planted near structures, underground drains or pipes because of the aggressive roots that spread nearly as wide as the tree grows tall. Best used in parks and open spaces. |
| Propagation | Propagated from seed. |
| Cultivation | Grows best in tropical climates. This plant needs to be protected from frost and wind. Requires full sun or filtered shade and well drained, sandy soils. |
| Notable Specimens | Harry P Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America. |
| Habitat | Atlantic rainforest and the dry land forest of northeast Brazil. |
| Leaf Description | The round, deep green leaves are 10 cm long, thin and delicate, so they will not provide deep shade. |
| Flower Description | The small flowers are yellow with red dots. |
Photographs
Caesalpinia ferrea, form. Harry P Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America.
Caesalpinia ferrea, bark. Harry P Leu Gardens, Orlando, Florida, United States of America.