Do you have one growing well? Have you seen one anywhere in Phoenix growing and blooming? I'm curious to hear whether anyone at all in the area is growing and blooming the Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia, formerly known as Caesalpinia regia).

Why you ask? Because, I did my usual leap-before-looking and bought a nice five gallon one from Baker nursery a month ago. I planted it in a prime spot for my garden, and it's growing like CRAZY, but I have some serious concerns about its long term chances, lol.

If you're growing one, or have grown one, or know of one in the area (anywhere in AZ really) feel free to share.

Thanks!
Grant

There used to be a house down the street and around the corner that had a big one (15') that was just gorgeous. One day the fence was torn down and the yard was a mess, the tree was gone and they were putting in a pool!!! They just ripped the tree out. I could have cried, I would have had it carefully removed if I had known what they were doing. They just did not appreciate it! Dang people!
Susie

And here's one in Tempe.

And there's another one in Tempe of equal size of those two.

They do great in Yuma, they're even used as street trees there.

Here's one in Yuma.

And another in Yuma.

I missed then while flowering, poor timing on my part. But they're certainly my favorite flowering tree hands down.

I've never seen a city that per capita has more Delonix regia then Puerto Penasco.

I've also grown them from seed and have four that are in 5 gallon pots and they certainly do grow fast. In a year and a half mine went from seed to 3 plus feet tall.

The thrive in full sun here. The ones in Yuma and Puerto Penasco attest to that (tought to get more sunshine then those two places). They actually flower best in full sun, so certainly give full sun when possible.

Certainly a tree I expect to see take off in Phoenix within the next decade or so.

The one at the U of A was planted back in the 70's. Granted it's in the U of A's "Magic Alley", but that still blows my mind how long it's survived here. It got hit hard in December of 2003 with back to back night with lows around 26. It lost about half of it's canopy. But it's still alive and last I saw was recovering well.

Lee

Great information, thanks very much for sharing it. Turtle, I'm glad the staps are doing well for you--I'd love to see how they're doing. The crested Opuntia microdasys that you sent me in trade is making nice progress too.

Steve, John, Susie, Turtle, and Lee, thanks for all of the cultural information on these. Sounds like I may need to give mine a bit of protection this winter then, huh? I'm really amazed at how much it's already grown--I'm glad I gave it a prime, sunny spot. Susie, too bad about your neighbors ripping theirs out...that's a real shame. I wonder whey they're not more popularly planted around the Phoenix metro? Of course, if mine gets fried this winter, I'll know why, lol.

Thanks for the link, Steve, I'm off to check it out. And Lee, thanks for the great city-by-city pics and information...really fun to read. Turtle, I'd say it would be a great idea for you to add an entry for this plant on your website...sounds like there could be an growing market for them.

Take care,
Grant

I just got back from my vacation in India and i got plenty of royal poincinia seeds for everyone. They grow like weeds back home. I will post pictures soon.

He featured others including the Parrot Tree (Schotia brachpetala) which is drought tolerant, frost hardy and has red flowers and Amapa (Tabebuia palmeri) which has wine-colored flowers, a palmate-compound leaf and grows to 30 feet. Could be worth looking into.

Thanks again, and if anyone else is growing or seeing these, please chime in.

Take care,
Grant

Lee

Susie

Please keep us informed as to their progress there in Lake Havasu.

Lee