Schizolobium

[steve 9atx]

Anyone have experience with the cold hardiness of S parahybrum? I've got a little seedling

in a pot that's growing like a weed. I have heard that they don't do well in wind - I've got

plenty of that. If I plant it out in the shade of a larger tree like a live oak, will the shade stunt

it? Maybe if I can get it to grow though the canopy of another tree, I can mitigate any wind

affects. Any ideas?

Steve

[Salvades]

You might want to consult NakaB on this particular tree. I don't think he looks at this area of palmtalk too often, but I do know that he has a beautiful Schizolobium planted in his front yard that is doing really well. He gets a good amount of wind as well. His is protected by Bananas and such. Good Luck.

[MattyB]

Steve, I get a ton of wind up my canyon and my Shizolobium seems to be doing fine. It's only about 8 feet tall. In winter there's no leaves on it so it is less prone to be broken by wind. And I've got super strong winds in winter storms! Also, because it's a dicot if it's being blown around on a regular basis, like mine is, it will fatten up and become more wind resistant. If you've got no wind usually and then get a wind storm then you might be in trouble. They're fast but you could easily cut one down if you needed to within 5 years and it wouldn't be too large.

[Gonzer]

It will freeze. I lost 3 crowns in last year's frost but after removing them the tree has gotten VERY thick. This is an old pic showing the 3 distinct crowns which froze halfway down. it was about 9 years old then.

Edited July 16, 2008 by Gonzer

[steve 9atx]

Gonzer

Do you mean it froze at 32F or something less?

From everything else I'm reading, full sun too, right?

Steve

[Gonzer]

It was 30 degrees Steve. The initial burn was pretty apparent but I didn't count on it traveling so far down the trunks. I have a soaker hose surrounding the base so he gets a good drink every week. I put him out as a 3' sapling in full sun. The leaf litter is great but can cause havoc with rain gutters. Here's a recent photo.

[Eric in Orlando]

Ours have shown damage around 27-28F.. maybe older trees with thicker trunks can tolerate a little more.

We had 2 30ft specimens when the 3 hurricanes of 2004 rolled thru. One snapped at about 6ft from the ground and has since grown back over 30ft. The other was in a more sheltered location and wasn't bothered.

Here is one that was a 1ft tall seedling when it was planted spring 2005. It is currently 40ft. I love the scars along the trunk after the huge pinnate leaves drop off.

[Shon]

I was thinking of getting one. How invasive is the root system?

[Gonzer]

I've never seen the slightest sign of surface roots on mine Shon. A soaker hose wrapped at the base gives it good, deep waterings.

Eric, your shot of the leaf scars is great. They always remind me of the wounds that were inflicted by the salt creature in the "Man Trap" episode of the original Star Trek.

[MattyB]

I heard that they're relatively non invasive roots. But that said, the tree turns into an absolute monster so I'm sure there's some serious roots happening. I know that's not real scientific, but you've got to expect a 40 foot tree with a trunk 2 ft. in diameter to be pretty rooty...not to be confused w/ roosty (sado that is)

[Donald Sanders]

For many years, before I moved to Hawaii in 88, I grew Schizolobium in S. Cal. My garden was in the Mt. Washington area of LA, 3 blocks up from the famous Loren Whitelock cycad garden. I sprouted seeds that I mailed away for and it was beautiful. Then my research found a huge specimen growing at the LA County Arboretum and it had been loged in there for many years. I do not know if it is till there. Fairchild Garden in Fla. also had an old one there. They are around here on the Big Island and they are beautiful. I have heard that they are not great in the wind but it seems other growers haven't had that problem. When Ron Harris was the curator of palms at the HUNTINGTON GARDEN we planted one next to the jungle and I do not know if that one is still there. They are truly a beautiful tree, good luck growing it. Don Sanders

[amazondk]

Now I know what these trees are. They grow around here in secondary forests and are quite common in the area. I would say taking into account that they do well here and are native species they would not have much cold tolerance.

dk

[epicure3]

My guess Steve, is that in Houston, you shouldn't have much of a problem between severe freezes. The plant will grow faster than a weed for you when it is warm. If you get a severe freeze below 28, you might lose it. I would do some homework to see if it re-sprouts from the roots. If it does, you would have another 40 footer that summer.....certainly is hot, humid, Houston.

[steve 9atx]

Thanks, all, for the information.

Eric's pics give me the most hope as my climate is very similar to his.

Believe it or not, my wife actually approved of another tree "in the ground"

and even showed me a spot (good thing I agree with her location)! So,

in the ground it goes this weekend.

Steve

[paulgila]

do it!!! its good to at least 30F & its a great looking tree!

[Hillizard]

Now I know this was a relatively mild winter temperature-wise for the Sacramento region... the growing tip of my in-ground Schizolobium didn't freeze back. I doubt if it'll ever bloom, but the leaves are nice. It takes the full, punishing sun here without complaint. I put it in the hottest, most protected part of my yard.  Fingers crossed for future growth...😉

[Silas_Sancona]

42 minutes ago, Hillizard said:

Now I know this was a relatively mild winter temperature-wise for the Sacramento region... the growing tip of my in-ground Schizolobium didn't freeze back. I doubt if it'll ever bloom, but the leaves are nice. It takes the full, punishing sun here without complaint. I put it in the hottest, most protected part of my yard.  Fingers crossed for future growth...😉

If they toughen up as they age / gain wood, you may see yours flower once it gets there..  @Peter, you recall how long your specimen took to set it's first flowers? 

If the reports of these handling heat / seasonal drought reasonably well are true, been tempted to try a few here..  Know a few nearby parks where big, unique looking trees like these could fit into the landscape quite well.

[Hillizard]

On 3/17/2024 at 6:47 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

If they toughen up as they age / gain wood, you may see yours flower once it gets there..  @Peter, you recall how long your specimen took to set it's first flowers? 

If the reports of these handling heat / seasonal drought reasonably well are true, been tempted to try a few here..  Know a few nearby parks where big, unique looking trees like these could fit into the landscape quite well.

I think I'm pushing the limits for growing Schizolobium in interior NorCal.  The new leaves look nice, but it'll be many years before this tree stores up enough energy to attempt blooming! I have it planted in the ground in the corner of the hottest part of my yard.

[Silas_Sancona]

5 minutes ago, Hillizard said:

I think I'm pushing the limits for growing Schizolobium in interior NorCal.  The new leaves look nice, but it'll be many years before this tree stores up enough energy to attempt blooming! I have it planted in the ground in the corner of the hottest part of my yard.

It could ( ...take it's time )  ..or,  now that it is in the ground, and should take off like a rocket.. imagine it could start throwing out some amount of flowers within a few years..

With many years of experience growing these by S. Cal folks, imagine there should be some pretty solid info regarding an average as it relates to how long these took to start flowering from seed. 

Thinking there are numerous, sizable specimens around San Diego / the wider Los Angeles area now that are setting seed.

Folks growing them really need to start posting updates on rarer trees like these..