Peltophorum pterocarpum (Yellow Poinciana)

[bubba]

A neat specimen past it's peak:

[tropicbreeze]

We call them Yellow Flame Trees. They grow naturally behind beach lines and along tidal rivers here. Quite popular in cultivation too. I have several at home. They put on a good show but they're very weedy. They attract a lot of pollinating insects and also nectar feeding parrots.

[Josue Diaz]

Has anyone grown them in California? I don't know if I've ever seen one here

 

[Silas_Sancona]

24 minutes ago, Josue Diaz said:

Has anyone grown them in California? I don't know if I've ever seen one here

 

Couple gardens down south grow P.  africanum.    Had half a dozen P. dubium   that did fine in San Jose..  Is the most cold hardy of the genus.

P. pterocarpum  is a tough call.. Seedlings i had croaked in a typical winter here.. Might survive periodic damage if raised to 15 / 25gal size before planting.

No clue about how the other 2 sp might do.. ( P. adnatum,  P. dasyrrhachis )

[greysrigging]

3 hours ago, tropicbreeze said:

We call them Yellow Flame Trees. They grow naturally behind beach lines and along tidal rivers here. Quite popular in cultivation too. I have several at home. They put on a good show but they're very weedy. They attract a lot of pollinating insects and also nectar feeding parrots.

Some nice ones outside Hibiscus Tavern, Leanyer ( near my place )

[greysrigging]

Back in May 2021 the Darwin City Council planted some Yellow Flame Trees on my neighbor's nature strip. You would think the start of the Dry is a crappy time to plant, but I gotta say they got it right !

Pics from May and October 2021

I'm taking some credit for the growth as I've been watering them by bucket with my special mix of recycled Carlton Dry ( via kidneys )

Seems to be working....

Jan 2022:

An update AND a big shout out to Darwin City Council re the plantings of Peltophorum pterocarpum ( yellow flame trees ) along Baroalba St last June.

The wet season now and these trees have really taken off in the wet and humid conditions.

I would love to see this street from Hibiscus down to the School looking like those lovely shady tree lined streets in Palmerston...

I still reckon my 'special brew' fertilizer has given the ones on my neighbor's nature strip a bit of a leg up....haha

Late May 2022:

Almost a year to the day since DCC planted these yellow flame trees ( Peltophorum pterocarpum ) along Baroalba St in Leanyer.

They've done OK in the last 12 months !

And today July 20 2023

So as you can see, very fast growing ( 26 months since the Council planted them.  )
 

[MikeB]

On 7/19/2023 at 7:27 PM, Josue Diaz said:

Has anyone grown them in California? I don't know if I've ever seen one here

 

I was growing Peltophormum inerme (now P. pterocarpum) in the Bay Area.  It grew quickly to about 15 feet before I moved.  It was never really cold tested and I doubt that it has survived the winters since then.  Peltophormum dubium is probably more cold hardy and worth a try in the central valley.  I grow P. dubium in north east Florida.  It gets knocked back and is pretty much a bush.  No flowers after 7 years.

[Navarro]

Aquí en el suroeste de España hay varios p.dubium  plantados en zonas urbanas y desde hace años florecen y han visto 0° centígrados 

[Navarro]

3 minutes ago, Navarro said:

Aquí en el suroeste de España hay varios p.dubium plantados en zonas urbanas y desde hace años florecen y han visto 0° centígrados 

Está foto tiene 10 años 

[Hillizard]

On 7/19/2023 at 5:00 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

Couple gardens down south grow P.  africanum.    Had half a dozen P. dubium   that did fine in San Jose..  Is the most cold hardy of the genus.

P. pterocarpum  is a tough call.. Seedlings i had croaked in a typical winter here.. Might survive periodic damage if raised to 15 / 25gal size before planting.

No clue about how the other 2 sp might do.. ( P. adnatum,  P. dasyrrhachis )

Good to know the Peltophorum I'm growing is most likely P. dubium since it defoliates in the winter and releafs strongly each spring. I didn't remember its identity from when I got it. Tree has considerable value as both summer shade and cold weather protection for the Sabal mauritiiformis and Trithrinax acanthocoma  growing underneath it. Hasn't bloomed yet. I have to severely prune it to keep it on my side of the fence and below the overhead powerlines, otherwise it would be a monster. Worst of the recent heatwaves hasn't  fazed it a bit.

[Tomas]

On 7/21/2023 at 9:56 PM, Navarro said:

Aquí en el suroeste de España hay varios p.dubium  plantados en zonas urbanas y desde hace años florecen y han visto 0° centígrados 

Do they set seeds? I am not able to acquire seeds of P. dubium, mostly they reveal africanum or pterocarpum

[Navarro]

46 minutes ago, Tomas said:

Ponen semillas? No puedo adquirir semillas de P. dubium, en su mayoría revelan africanum o pterocarpum

Nunca me parado a verlos de cerca pero seguramente después de la floración 

[Navarro]

 

53 minutes ago, Tomas said:

Ponen semillas? No puedo adquirir semillas de P. dubium, en su mayoría revelan africanum o pterocarpum

No se qué tan altos estarán de cerca para poder coger algunas bainas pero lo intentaré para dentro de un mes 

 

[Navarro]

Vainas*

[richtrav]

Does anyone have a picture of Peltophorum dubium var adnatum? It’s native to the Bahamas. Fairchild is supposed to have one.

[aabell]

Peltophorum dubium is just starting to bloom here in Fort Myers, two months later than normal as the tree recovers from hurricane Ian damage.

I'm not a big fan of this species, especially here in 10B where there are better options. The biggest issue is that it is completely deciduous from January through March, no matter how mild our winter is.  The blooming period is short, typically about three weeks starting at the beginning of June.

Interestingly, since it was defoliated by Ian, and immediately began the process of sending out new emergency leaves and branches, it was green all through this winter. I'm doing my best to keep the new growth properly pruned off the trunk and lower branches, but the overall habit before and after the storm is of a big ugly tree that's been partially pollarded multiple times.

P pterocarpum is more common here and a bit more attractive overall in my opinion. 

Peltophorum is commonly called "yellow Poinciana", but Delonix regia, if you live in a warm enough zone, is a much more attractive tree with because it is mostly evergreen, has a naturally umbrella shaped canopy, and will bloom all summer. 

[Silas_Sancona]

3 hours ago, aabell said:

Peltophorum dubium is just starting to bloom here in Fort Myers, two months later than normal as the tree recovers from hurricane Ian damage.

I'm not a big fan of this species, especially here in 10B where there are better options. The biggest issue is that it is completely deciduous from January through March, no matter how mild our winter is.  The blooming period is short, typically about three weeks starting at the beginning of June.

Interestingly, since it was defoliated by Ian, and immediately began the process of sending out new emergency leaves and branches, it was green all through this winter. I'm doing my best to keep the new growth properly pruned off the trunk and lower branches, but the overall habit before and after the storm is of a big ugly tree that's been partially pollarded multiple times.

P. pterocarpum is more common here and a bit more attractive overall in my opinion. 

Peltophorum is commonly called "yellow Poinciana", but Delonix regia, if you live in a warm enough zone, is a much more attractive tree with because it is mostly evergreen, has a naturally umbrella shaped canopy, and will bloom all summer. 

 

Partially agree w/ this:   There are definitely a bunch of great options for Zone 10 /10+ , but i myself would not cross P. dubium  off that list..  Yes, it needs space, can be a bit messy, ..and isn't exactly the strongest option in hurricane- prone areas but, i actually miss being able to pass by the monster specimens i'd see daily on my way to / from work in Sarasota, or when running around St. Pete / Clearwater.. 

As far as flowering.. Maybe they start sooner further south??  but i swear the specimens in Sarasota / Bradenton, and St. Pete / Clearwater were hitting their peak -right about now..

Years ago, on my first trip to / through FL, i remember this tree being one of the first that caught my attention -from a distance- while in the St. Pete area, before heading south. I'd made that trip ...right about this time of year.

Regarding when they'd loose their leaves, ..I think the specimens planted near Kopsick retained theirs ..or would drop older foliage just as new foliage was starting to push out ..sometime in the Jan. / Mar. Time frame.  I myself like seasonality regardless, so being leafless / nearly leafless a couple months out of the year isn't a drawback. Most trees here go through a brief, semi-leafless phase.


Agree, 100%:  If you can grow it, P. pterocarpum  is a standout..  Thicker foliage pattern / individual leaflets, Bigger ..and extremely fragrant flowers ( Don't recall much of s scent in dubium ) / ...the eye catching Copper-colored buds they emerge from..   it is a great tree.. Specimens i remember seeing were on the smaller side   ( ..Unless taken out by the cold, hurricane winds, etc,  There were several specimens planted at a park in central Clearwater )  so i can't speak for how large ones look.   I'm sure they'd be spectacular.


Here, ( and likely in many parts of S.Cal where grown, ...and in N.W. Mexico / Baja -at least- ),  Delonix regia   also goes through a brief leafless / near-leafless phase, just like they do in habitat in Madagascar.  Flower better when they've had a chance to rest beforehand too.  My other Delonix: pumila,  and decaryi, also get nekked in the winter.  Not bothered by that at all.   Again, Seasonality is a fantastic aspect of any garden.



Overall, as far as yellow-flowered  flowering tree options go ....Besides Trumpet Trees,   Bulnesia  *** Now  Gonopterodendron **** aboreum is hands down my personal #1 pick.. Takes it's time getting big,  Foliage, bark texture /structure is nice, Flowers are spectacular.. and flowers at that time of year when most stuff is done for the season. ...At least some we had where i'd worked in Sarasota did.

If it would have been shorter ( so i could stuff it on a moving truck ), we had an old specimen that had been on the treeline for years, that would have been a great container subject.

There's actually someone here in PHX who supposedly has offered it here, though i've heard no reports of specimens / how they might have done. That said, mine did fine until i made the mistake of not watering during one of our " bad " summers..  Would try again if i could find fresh, fully ripe seed / seedlings.  Recommend as a trial sp. for 9b+ CA. as well.

[aabell]

37 minutes ago, Silas_Sancona said:

As far as flowering.. Maybe they start sooner further south??  but i swear the specimens in Sarasota / Bradenton, and St. Pete / Clearwater were hitting their peak -right about now..

My observations based wholly on my single specimen over the last 5 years that I've lived here, so take with a grain of salt. It definitely typically blooms mainly in June though. And mine always goes completely bare, almost as long as the Plumerias, again with this year being an exception. 

Delonix keeping its leaves seems mostly dependent on the cold. Most years they keep quite a few leaves all winter here. This year, again while already being defoliated once from the hurricane, all the Poinciana in the area got a major shock from the Christmas cold snap. It never got below freezing but since all of their leaves were young and tender at the time, they were defoliated again by the cold and most sat bare for several months. I was actually worried that a lot of them wouldn't recover but most look fine now. I was pleasantly surprised at how they mostly fared ok in the storm, they seem to sacrifice leaves and weak small branches, leaving the larger limbs with less wind resistance.