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GENERAL
Origin
:
tropical
Vigour
:
fast growing
Humidity
:
semi-arid, semi-
humid, very
humid
Propagation :
sowing and
pricking out
Maintenance :
low
CONDITIONS
Urban climate :
resistant
Dessication :
vulnerable
Stagnant water :
vulnerable
Irrigation
:
high
Salinity/ppm :
moderate (3000
ppm)
Hardiness
:
0°C
SHAPE
Type
:
tree
Height
:
10 m-20 m
Spread
:
6 m-10 m
Foliage
:
evergreen
FLOWER
Colour
:
bright yellow,
deep orange
Size
:
15 cm - 45 cm
Period
:
June - August
Smell
:
scented, flower
FRUIT
Type of fruit :
pod
Fruit size
:
10 cm
Bearing names such as Yellow Poinciana, Rusty Shieldbearer and Copper Pod, this is a showy,
flowering tree, native to tropical Asia and Australia, and introduced to the Arabian peninsula.
Not often seen in Arriyadh, where it may lose its leaves during a long dry period, the leaves re-
appearing quickly with the flowers. It grows rapidly to 20 metres high and 10 metres wide, and
has an umbrella-like crown with fuzzy, rusty-red twigs. The rich green, bipinnate leaves are about
60 cm long with oval leaflets. Bold, yellow, nocturnally fragrant flowers, with crinkled petals,
each with a brown spot, are borne on spectacular, upright racemes about 45 cm long, blanketing
the tops of trees. Large bunches of the copper-coloured fruit, containing flattened, oblong seeds,
are attractive at first, but later look untidy because they remain on the tree for months. P. pte-
rocarpum requires light shade to full sun, and cannot tolerate heavy frost. It is very salt-tolerant,
preferring moist, well-drained, sandy soil. Being drought-resistant, irrigation requirements are
moderate. Propagation is by seed, which needs to be scarified. Yellow Poinciana is an excellent
shade, street tree and a specimen tree, if plenty of space is available. It needs regular pruning,
when young, to keep the tree dense and in shape. Care should be taken not to plant it too close
to structures and hard paving, since the trees have shallow root systems. Generally pest- and
disease-free, this is a low-maintenance tree, which may create a leaf litter problem, if not kept neat.
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Peltophorum pterocarpum,
Caesalpiniaceae
Yellow Poinciana,
Rusty Shieldbearer, Copper Pod