Description

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Delonix regia flavida (Yellow Poinciana) is one of the most recognized flowering trees in subtropical and tropical areas. The Poinciana tree grows to a height of 35 to 40 feet. With a grayish bark mostly smooth that develops into a thick trunk. Additionally, it has a broad, spreading, flat open crown, with many somewhat-weak branches. Uniquely, the tree often grows wider than it is tall. Displaying bright green delicate alternate leaves, bipinnate, 12-20 inches long overall. Accordingly each leaf has 20-40 pairs of primary leaflets, each one splits into 10-20 pairs of 2-inch long secondary leaflets.

Also flowers are borne in showy terminal clusters and are large with 5 petals each up to 3 inches in length and yellow blooms literally cover the tree tops in summer. Fruits are brown, dry, hard, flat, elongated pods 12 inches long or more containing several seeds; mainly for propagation. As it has no serious insect or disease problems. The tree benefits from pruning to manage its shape. Although it has an aggressive root system and should be planted at least 10 feet from any structure. The pods can create a litter problem.

Delonix regia flavida (Yellow Poinciana) has attractive foliage and showy flowers, 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.