Delonix Regia

Delonix regia (Royal Poinciana) is a spectacular flowering tree and is one of the most popular trees in subtropical and tropical areas. The poinciana grows to a height of 35 to 40 feet. Also, it has a nearly smooth grayish bark and develops a thick trunk.

Royal Poinciana – Description

It has a broad, spreading, flat open crown, with many somewhat-weak branches. The tree often grows wider than it is tall. The bright green delicate leaves are alternate, bipinnate, and 12 to 20 inches long. In addition, each leaf has 20 to 40 pairs of primary leaflets, each further divided into 10 to 20 pairs of 2 inch long secondary leaflets.

Furthermore, Delonix regia (Royal Poinciana) flowers are borne in showy terminal clusters and are large with 5 petals each up to 3 inches in length and blooms literally cover the tree tops in summer. Blooms are scarlet or red. Fruits are brown, dry, hard, flat, elongated pods 12 inches long or more containing several seeds: for propagation. It has no serious insect or disease problems. The tree benefits from pruning to manage its shape; it has an aggressive root system and is best to plant it at least 10 feet away from any structure. The pods create a litter problem.

Landscape Applications of Delonix Regia

Delonix regia (Royal Poinciana) is a splendid tree has attractive foliage and showy flowers and is perfect for landscape use on the seaside, as a garden or park summer-flowering tree, street tree, specimen tree and in a xerophytic garden. It can also be trained as a bonsai plant.

🌳Other popular and beautiful plants: Cassia Fistula.