Peltophorum

Peltophorum
A genus of 8 species of stately trees native to tropical regions around the world.
They prefer full sun on moist, well drained soil. Protect trees from wind during the first few years. Propagation from seed is easy if the seeds are soaked in water before sowing.

Peltophorum africanum
A fast growing, spreading, drought deciduous, medium-sized tree, that is native from tropical to southern Africa. Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 5+ feet; 2 years - 8 feet; 4 years - 15 feet; 12 years - 19 feet; largest on record - 50 x 50 feet with a trunk diameter of 4 feet. It makes for an excelletn shade tree in Los Angeles, California.
The bipinnate leaves, up to 18 inches in length, are composed of oblong leaflets, up to 0.3 inches in length. The foliage is green.
The leafstalks and rachis are red-brown and hairy.
The bright yellow flowers are borne on axilliary clusters during summer.
They are followed by dark brown, leathery, flat pods, up to 4 inches in length, ripening during fall and persisting into winter.
The timber is valuable for carving.
Hardy zones 9b to 12. Drought tolerant.
The lower limbs often need to be removed to get a tree you can walk under.

Peltophorum dubium
A very stately large evergreen tree, that is native to the Brazilian rainforests.
Some records include: fastest recorded growth rate - 4 feet with a trunk diameter increase of 0.6 inches; 2 months - 3 feet; 5 years - 13 x 8 feet; 2 years - 20 feet; 10 years - 25 feet; largest on record - 82 x 82 feet with a trunk diameter of 6 feet.
The pinnate leaves, up to 18 inches in length, are composed of oblong leaflets, up to 0.5 inches in size. The foliage is glossy mid-green.
The yellowish-orange flowers are borne on large terminal panicles, up to 24 inches in length, during summer or the rainy season.
They are followed by flat, hairy brown pods that contain 2 to 3 seeds.
Hardy zones 9b to 12. Very drought tolerant.



Peltochorum pterocarpa ( Yellow Poinciana )
A fast growing, spreading, very large, semi-evergreen to evergreen tree, that is native to Malaysia, Indonesia and far northern Australia.
Some records include; 3 years - 30 feet; largest on record - 170 x 125 feet with a trunk diameter of 6 feet.
The bipinnate leaves, up to 24 inches in length, are composed of many leaflets, up to 1 inch in size. The foliage is green.
The profuse, fragrant, yellow flowers, up to 2 inches across, are borne on racemes, up to 24 inches in length, during summer or the beginning of the rainy season. Flowering often begins as early at the 4th year.
They are followed by leathery, flat, brown pods, up to 4 inches in length, ripening during early autumn or the start of the dry season.
The young stems are covered in rusty red hairs.
Hardy zones 9 to 12 requring deep moist soil. Tolerant of flooding.

* photos taken on Jan 11 2011 @ Deerfield Beach Arboretum, Florida