Thursday, June 14, 2012

Tree Thursday - Royal Poinciana

Royal Poinciana
Delonix regia

Royal Poinciana trees are currently in bloom with a brilliant display of red flowers throughout South Florida.  The Royal Poinciana is also known by other names around the world, such as flamboyant tree, flame tree, and peacock flower.  Royal Poinciana gets 30-40 ft tall, but its elegant wide-spreading umbrella-like canopy can be wider than its height. Royal Poinciana is deciduous in climates that have a marked dry season, but in Florida and other areas where the winter is not that much dryer than the summer, it is a semi-evergreen tree.
Royal Poinciana is native to Madagascar. It is widely cultivated and may be seen adorning avenues, parks and estates in tropical cities throughout the world. A casual visitor might think the Caribbean Islanders invented this tree they call simply "flamboyant." Poinciana frequently escapes cultivation and establishes in frost-free climates, including extreme southern Florida. (information taken from http://www.floridata.com/ref/d/delo_reg.cfm)


This photograph was taken on Wednesday, June 13, 2012, in the Croissant Park area (Fort Lauderdale, Florida). 

Growth Rate – Fast
Salt Tolerance – Medium
Drought Tolerance – High
Wood is weak and tree can be considered messy.

For more information:
                http://www.floridata.com/ref/d/delo_reg.cfm