Description
Rainbow Shower Tree – Cassia x Nealiae Overview
The Cassia x Nealiae (Rainbow Shower tree) is a natural hybrid between the Golden Shower tree (Cassia Fistula) and the Apple Blossom Cassia (Cassia Javanica) — combining the golden yellow of the Fistula with the pinkish-red tones of the Javanica into a multicolored bloom. The Rainbow Cassia hybrid first occurred in a garden in Hawaii, where it became so popular that additional specimens were produced through intentional cross-breeding. Today it is the official tree of Honolulu.
Rainbow Cassia – Flowers & Growth
The Rainbow Shower tree shares the appearance, growth habit, and landscape uses of its parent species, with a notably fast growth rate. Its most striking feature is the variably colored bloom — flowers appear in shades of white, yellow, pink, orange, and red, often on the same tree — creating the rainbow effect that gives it its name. Unlike its parents, the Rainbow Cassia produces few or no seed pods, significantly reducing litter — a practical advantage for urban and garden planting.
Cassia x Nealiae – Growing Conditions
The Rainbow Shower tree is fast-growing and typically reaches 25 to 40 feet in height, with a broad spreading crown that provides excellent shade. Like its parent species, it thrives in full sun and grows well across a range of well-drained soils — from sandy to loamy — making it well suited to South Florida’s conditions. It is briefly deciduous, shedding its leaves just before the flowering season begins, which makes the bloom display even more dramatic. Minimal pruning is recommended when young to establish a strong crown structure.
Color Variants & Landscape Use
The Rainbow Shower tree has given rise to two named color variants: ‘Lunalilo Yellow’ and ‘Queen’s Hospital White’. Both are excellent choices for gardens and parks as showy accent or specimen trees. The multicolored blooms also make it one of the most effective trees for color-focused landscape design in South Florida.
Available at our Homestead nursery in sizes from 25 to 300 gallons, suitable for residential gardens and wholesale landscape projects.
🌳 More popular and beautiful plants: Pink Cassia tree
