🌳 Tree
ANX-TREE-0000014
Flame Tree
Delonix regia
Flame Tree (Delonix regia), an ornamental, shade tree of the Fabaceae family.
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Tree type
- Ornamental, Shade
- Mature height (m)
- 8-12
- Growth rate
- Fast
- Lifespan (years)
- 30-50
- Native region
- Madagascar, now widely planted throughout the tropics.
Environment
Growing Conditions
- Climate requirements
- Tropical to subtropical, frost-free.
- Soil types
- Tolerates a range of soils, including poor ground, provided drainage is adequate.
- Water requirements
- Moderate; reasonably drought-tolerant once established.
Cultivation
Planting & Care
- Planting guide
- Grown from seed (usually scarified to break the hard seed coat) or nursery seedlings, typically as a standalone shade/ornamental tree.
- Care guide
- Minimal maintenance beyond occasional pruning to manage its wide, spreading canopy.
Phenology
Flowering & Fruiting
- Flowering season
- Spectacular large red-orange flowers, typically at the start of the rainy season
- Fruiting season
- Large, hard, dark brown seed pods that persist on the tree for months
Value
Uses & Economic Importance
- Uses
- Primarily ornamental/shade tree; also planted as a windbreak and for erosion control on slopes.
- Economic importance
- Not a commercial crop tree, but widely and deliberately planted across the tropics for shade and ornamental value in homesteads, streets, and farms.
Trade
Marketplace
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