Delonix regia Seeds | Royal Poinciana Tree
LATIN NAME: Delonix regia
COMMON NAME: Royal Poinciana, Flamboyant, Flame Tree
Plant Profile
Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) grows as a spreading, deciduous tree in the pea family, native to dry forests of Madagascar, while it is grown across warm world for its magnificent flowers. In good conditions it grows to around Twelve metres. During flowering it gives bees and other insects a dependable food source. Taken as a whole, it is a plant that repays a little attention many times over.
Science & Biotechnology
As part of the pea family, Delonix regia contributes to research on plant classification and adaptation, while nurseries and gardeners continue to trial it for cultivation. Species has also been studied in botany, since it is a member of bean family, and its classification and its relationships have been examined. It is the kind of species that plant scientists reach for when they need reliable material for propagation and selection studies.
Uses & Benefits
Royal Poinciana brings genuine presence to the garden and earns its keep across the growing season. Ecologically, royal poinciana is a spectacular tree of warm world. Its great scarlet-orange flowers feed birds and bees, its flat pods and seeds feed wildlife, and its broad canopy gives shade and shelter, while it is a blaze of bloom in warm cities and the coasts. Mature plants need little attention in a well-chosen position.
The flamboyant tree is pure spectacle, a flame-flowered shade tree of the tropics with folk bark records but a primarily ornamental role.
Growing from Seed
Sow fresh seed of Royal Poinciana under ordinary good conditions. Use a loose, well-drained seed compost, sow evenly over the surface and cover lightly, and keep everything evenly moist in bright light. Shift the seedlings into small pots as soon as they can be handled, and give them bright light until planting-out time.
Our Take
Reaching twelve metres, it needs room to show its full form. It tolerates the sort of small mistakes every beginner makes.
Related Reading
Gardeners who grow Royal Poinciana often pair it with these related subjects: