Royal Poinciana
Delonix regia
Plant Family: Leguminosae
Leaves: Alternate, twice-compound, bright green, large, to 50 cm, with 15 to 25 pairs of segments that hold the tiny leaflets.
Bark: Brown, somewhat rough.
Flowers: Large, red-orange, with five petals, quite showy and noticeable even from a distance, appearing spring to summer.
Fruits: A long green pod that turns dark, to 45 cm; mostly fall to winter, but may persist on the tree for many months.
Habitat: Mostly encountered as an attractive ornamental, it sometimes naturalizes.
Growth Form: Medium-sized tree with a broad spreading crown and a short trunk, commonly planted in yards and along streets.
Key Features: The showy flower clusters and roadside habitat make this tree easy to identify.
Comments: This attractive tree is native to Madagascar where it is considered threatened in the wild. The subspecies Delonix regia variety flavida has golden-yellow flowers.
