Flame Tree
Delonix regia (Bojer ex Hook.) Raf.
Location
Butterfly Garden
Family
Fabaceae
Common names
Flame Tree, Gulmohar, Royal Poinciana, Peacock Flower
Native range
Madagascar
Habitat
Tropical and subtropical regions
Flowering
Generally, blooms in late spring or summer, around April to June.
Fruiting
Fruits mature and persist for several months post-flowering.
Conservation status
Endangered in its native Madagascar but widely cultivated and naturalized in many tropical and subtropical regions globally
About this plant
Delonix regia is a deciduous, ornamental tree known for its large, spreading crown and bright red-orange flowers. It typically grows 10–15 meters tall, with a wide, umbrella-like canopy that provides excellent shade. The tree has a short, thick trunk with many spreading branches, giving it a bushy and majestic appearance. Leaves are compound, bipinnate, with leaflets. Flowers large, showy, scarlet or orange-red with five petals, one petal (standard) marked with yellow and white, arranged in racemes at branch tips. Fruits are elongated woody pods 30–50 cm long containing several seeds.
Uses
Widely planted as an ornamental for its spectacular flowers and shade; wood used for fuel and occasionally timber.
Growing conditions
Prefers tropical or near-tropical climates; thrives in well-drained sandy or loamy soils enriched with organic matter; tolerant of drought and salty conditions but flowers better when soil is slightly dry; does poorly in heavy clay soils
Habit
Deciduous to semi-evergreen ornamental tree.