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Rain Tree - Samanea saman

ibreakforpalms

By ibreakforpalms
in TROPICAL LOOKING PLANTS - Other Than Palms

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ibreakforpalms Enthusiast

ibreakforpalms

Posted
Posted

Rain Tree - Samanea saman

Samaneasaman.jpg

Jason

Sebastian, Florida USA

Zone 9B/10A

Jeff Searle Grand Master

Jeff Searle

Posted
Posted

Jason,

    I have two of these planted in my yard. I love the tree. My largest one, Hurricane Wilma tried to push over, and now has a ever so slight lean to it. It's probably got a 50' spread. And it was planted about 5 years ago.

Jeff

Searle Brothers Nursery Inc.

and The Rainforest Collection.

Southwest Ranches,Fl.

fiji jim Veteran

fiji jim

Posted
Posted

The Saman or raintree is more prolific here in Vanua Levu than anywhere else that we have travelled.

Our valley is full of them and we have seven large ones on our 6 acres. I had also removed just as many to allow space for palms and fruit trees.  It was a massive job with bulldozers and 20 ton excavators and still stumps remain that were too large to move. (now covered in vines as a disguise)

Raintrees are like weeds for us as we weedspray thousands of their self-sown seedlings every few months so that they don’t take over. They continually drop leaf, flowers, seed and limbs without a rest; guess that is why they are known as ‘raintrees’.

Also they are very shallow rooted and apart from old large mango trees are the most likely to be blown over in a cyclone. Many will still live on their side with most roots exposed and start to bend their limbs skywards as they continue to grow.

The pic, from our deck shows a view away from the sea up the valley. It is all Saman with wild coconut occasionally.

However it is useful. Our kitchen benches and deck chairs are all raintree. Very difficult to work with but attractive timber. Many locals use the timber for house studs and it is also attractive turned into bowls. Also for us it serves as a natural shadehouse and provides unlimited amount of mulch. Just a never-ending job of cleaning up their continual raining mess.

I find that one old specimen, surrounded by space is a majestic tree but otherwise our largest weed.

post-710-1178321503_thumb.jpg

Located on Vanua Levu near Savusavu (16degrees South) Elevation from sealevel to 30meters with average annual rainfall of 2800mm (110in) with temperature from 18 to 34C (65 to 92F).

ibreakforpalms Enthusiast

ibreakforpalms

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Jeff,

I'm going to try one up here in Sebastian and see what happens (wish me luck).  What size did you plant yours out at (7, 15 gallon)?

Fiji Jim,

That's a beutiful view you have!  Sounds like there are many uses for this tree.

Jason

Sebastian, Florida USA

Zone 9B/10A

Randyp Contributor

Randyp

Posted
Posted

I am not familiar with this tree but it looks like what I have been looking for in a large tree and is apparently fairly fast growing. Does anyone know how it would do here in the warmer areas of Southern California ? I did a web search and found there is even a yellow variety although I'm not sure where one would find one.

I'm looking to shade a large area out back away from my house and this looks ideal .

Randy

  • 2 weeks later...
ibreakforpalms Enthusiast

ibreakforpalms

Posted
  • Author
Posted

Look at the baby 3 gallon Samanea saman I just planted!  Hopefully it will last up here in Sebastian, FL.  Wish me luck!

Samaneasaman2.jpg

Another view.

Samaneasaman1.jpg

Jason

Sebastian, Florida USA

Zone 9B/10A

palmmermaid Veteran

palmmermaid

Posted
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In a recent copy of The Leaflet (Mount's Botanical Gradens newsletter), Joel Crippin from Morninstar Nursery wrote that it is one of his favorite shade trees for several reasons - fast growth, nice flowers, and strong wood.  He indicates that it may break in a hurricane but will come back.  I have been looking and looking for one and have been unable to find one.  I recently won some seeds in an online auction and hopefully can get at least one to grow.  Another name for it is monkey pod tree - not monkey puzzle.

Jason,

Where did you find a 3-gallon one for sale?  I asked everyone I know that grows unusual troicals and have been unsuccessful - and I go to almost every sale here in Palm Beach, Broward, and Martin county!

Jeff,

The pictures of yours are beautiful.  I need some fast shade here on my property.

Palmmermaid

Kitty Philips

West Palm Beach, FL

palmmermaid Veteran

palmmermaid

Posted
Posted

Jeff,

Sorry.  I see the pictures were from Fiji Jim's property, not yours.

Palmmermaid

Kitty Philips

West Palm Beach, FL

Jeff Searle Grand Master

Jeff Searle

Posted
Posted

Kitty,

     Thats all right, I wish mine was that big. But it is 50' across now.

Jason,

     Mine was probably in a 10 or 15 gallon pot, maybe about 8' tall.

Jeff

Searle Brothers Nursery Inc.

and The Rainforest Collection.

Southwest Ranches,Fl.

Howeadypsis Mentor

Howeadypsis

Posted
Posted

Ooh I'd like one of those for bonsai!

Larry Shone in wet and sunny north-east England!  Zone9 ish

Tie two fish together and though they have two tails they cannot swim <>< ><>

paulgila Grand Master

paulgila

Posted
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its not the same as "monkey pod"tree,is it?

beautiful pix,i especially liked jims.

i am curious about its "surviviability" in socal,as well...

the "prince of snarkness."

 

still "warning-free."

 

san diego,california,left coast.

MattyB Grand Master

MattyB

Posted
Posted

Yes Paul, it's the same as Monkey Pod...(read above derrrrrr).  Easy germinator!  I've got 20 seedlings that popped up from my last Hawaii trip.  Don't think it's a reliable grower here in SoCal.  Matt in SD has some that are larger.

Matt Bradford

"Manambe Lavaka"

Spring Valley, CA (8.5 miles inland from San Diego Bay)

10B on the hill (635 ft. elevation)

9B in the canyon (520 ft. elevation)

paulgila Grand Master

paulgila

Posted
Posted

i missed that part,somehow matt.my eyesight is failing me in my "dotage".

or perhaps its all the horse tranquilizer i took last night.

the "prince of snarkness."

 

still "warning-free."

 

san diego,california,left coast.

ibreakforpalms Enthusiast

ibreakforpalms

Posted
  • Author
Posted

(palmmermaid @ May 14 2007,07:23)

QUOTE
Jason,

Where did you find a 3-gallon one for sale?  I asked everyone I know that grows unusual troicals and have been unsuccessful - and I go to almost every sale here in Palm Beach, Broward, and Martin county!

Kitty,

There's a good possibility that I'll be going down to Loxahatchee this Friday.  If you would like one or more 3 gallon plants (same as in my picture) PM me and let me know if your interested.

Jason

Sebastian, Florida USA

Zone 9B/10A

  • 14 years later...
Guy.in.NorCal Newbie

Guy.in.NorCal

Posted
Posted

Hey ibreakforpalms,

  Did your Samanea saman tree end up growing successfully in SoCal?

On 5/13/2007 at 9:08 AM, ibreakforpalms said:

Wish me luck!

I visited Maui with my wfie a few years back and fell in love with the monkeypod tree. It's such a beautiful species.

I've been wanting to plant one here in NorCal but now sure if it will grow.

Silas_Sancona Grand Master

Silas_Sancona

Posted
Posted
2 minutes ago, Guy.in.NorCal said:

Hey ibreakforpalms,

  Did your Samanea saman tree end up growing successfully in SoCal?

I visited Maui with my wfie a few years back and fell in love with the monkeypod tree. It's such a beautiful species.

I've been wanting to plant one here in NorCal but now sure if it will grow.

Being a post from 2007, highly doubt you'll get a response.. though @MattyB might be able to chime in w/ thoughts on how his seedlings might have done.   Regardless,

First off,  Welcome to the Forum.  Curious as to which part of NorCal you're located..  This will offer clues as to how mild your winters are / how low your lows dip at that time of year,  ..and what kind of heat you experience in summer. All are important factors in determining whether or not these would survive there.  ( Grew up in the South Bay ..San Jose to be exact  myself )

  • Like 1
bubba Grand Master

bubba

Posted
Posted

You may or may not get a response to 2006-2007 threads but you may find some nuggets! Not unlike this Rain Tree thread (they shifted a street in Hollywood, Fl. to accommodate), which are truly magnificent. You would also miss threads from Robert Rifle…

What you look for is what is looking

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