Royal poinciana

Sun

Full sun; flowering is poor in shade.

Water

Water regularly while establishing. Established trees tolerate seasonal drought, but need occasional deep watering during prolonged hot, dry weather.

Soil

Well-drained sandy, loamy or gravelly soil; tolerates a range of soil pH but dislikes waterlogged ground.

Height

30-40 ft (9-12 m)

Spread

40-60 ft (12-18 m)

Flowers

Late spring through summer, sometimes extending into early autumn; large scarlet to orange-red flowers, with one petal marked in white and yellow.

Foliage

Large, finely divided leaves with many small green leaflets. Often loses its leaves during the dry season or cool weather.

Growth

Fast in warm conditions.

Care needed

Medium

• Pollinators
• Drought tolerant
• Heat tolerant
• Wildlife
• Low allergen

Northern hemisphere months. In Australia, shift them by six.

Difficulty

Hard

Toughness

Needs looking after

Pick your zone, country, light and whether you have pets.

1. Planting day

   7 ft (2 m)

2. After 1 year

   9 ft (2.7 m)

3. After 2 years

   11 ft (3.3 m)

4. After 3 years

   13 ft (4 m)

5. After 5 years

   17 ft (5.3 m)

About 13 years to full size.

From a typical nursery size, at an average rate for this kind of plant. A rule of thumb, not a forecast.

Cats and dogs

Toxic

Invasive in

the US

Growth rate

Fast

• Plant in a warm, frost-free position sheltered from strong winds, with room for the full crown.
• Keep well away from buildings, drains and paving; large surface roots can lift hard surfaces.
• Water young trees deeply, allowing the soil surface to dry between waterings.
• Apply a broad layer of organic mulch, keeping it clear of the trunk.
• Feed young trees lightly in spring if growth is weak; avoid heavy nitrogen feeding.
• Collect fallen woody pods from lawns and paths.

Pruning. Train young trees during the dormant or leafless period, retaining a strong trunk and well-spaced main branches; remove competing leaders and narrow, weak forks gradually. Avoid topping or heavy pruning of mature trees, and use a qualified arborist for large branches.

Late winter

Inspect the branch structure and remove dead wood or small competing leaders before active growth.

Spring

Plant once the soil is warm and any risk of frost has passed.

Spring

Refresh mulch and give young trees a light feed only if needed.

Summer

Deep-water establishing trees during dry spells; check beneath the mulch before watering again.

Autumn

Collect fallen pods and check paths for lifting caused by surface roots.

Winter

Keep container-grown plants under warm, bright cover and reduce watering as growth slows.

• Use as a flowering specimen in a large lawn where its full umbrella-shaped crown can develop.
• Create high summer shade beside a generous garden seating area, keeping roots away from paving.
• Pair with palms and bold-leaved tropical plants for contrasting foliage textures.
• Use as a focal tree in a large tropical courtyard with ample open soil and no overhead obstructions.

Garden styles it suits: Tropical, Modern tropical, Luxury resort, Caribbean, Florida subtropical and Architectural minimal.

Plant it with: Frangipani, Bird of paradise, Croton, Cordyline, Bromeliads and Cast-iron plant.

Wildlife: Flowers attract bees, butterflies and nectar-feeding birds where these occur. The broad crown provides shelter and perching sites, although this Madagascan species is not a substitute for locally native habitat trees.

• Frost injury: leaves and young shoots blacken in cold weather. Choose a frost-free site; protect small trees temporarily, and wait until warm growth resumes before removing damaged wood.
• Weak forks and storm breakage: train young trees for well-spaced branches and have mature trees inspected after major storms.
• Root rot in wet soil: improve drainage before planting and avoid frequent watering of established trees.
• Scale insects and sooty mould: check stems and leaf undersides, control associated ants, and treat reachable infestations with horticultural oil according to the label.

Seeds and pods are reported to be poisonous if eaten and may cause vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal discomfort. Keep them away from children, cats, dogs and grazing horses; species-specific evidence and safe quantities are not well established. Seek medical or veterinary advice after ingestion.

Where it spreads. Reported invasive in parts of Hawaii and the Galápagos Islands, where escaped seedlings can establish outside gardens. Check local guidance before planting in tropical island regions.

• Dwarf poinciana (Caesalpinia pulcherrima)

  A shrub or small tree with smaller leaves, often prickly stems, and upright flower clusters with conspicuously long projecting stamens.

• Yellow poinciana (Peltophorum pterocarpum)

  Has similar finely divided foliage but upright clusters of yellow flowers rather than large scarlet-orange flowers.

• Illawarra flame tree (Brachychiton acerifolius)

  Has broad, sometimes lobed leaves rather than feathery foliage, and masses of small red bell-shaped flowers.

Delonix comes from Greek words meaning conspicuous claw, referring to the narrow bases of the petals, while regia means royal.

Propagation. Grow from seed in warm conditions. Carefully nick the hard seed coat away from the embryo, soak in warm water for about 24 hours, then sow in a free-draining mix. Seed-grown trees can take several years to flower.

Accepted botanical name

Delonix regia

Native range

Madagascar.

Measured

Soil pH 4 to 7. Average height 1000 cm.

Sources: GBIF (CC BY 4.0) and Trefle (CC BY 4.0). The care and design notes are LandscapeGPT's own.