El Delonix direction It is one of the most popular tropical/subtropical tree species in the world, and for obvious reasons: its size, its magnificent flowers, that wide parasol crown that provides excellent shade... all this makes it a highly desired plant. .
In addition, its maintenance is not difficult, as long as the weather is right, something it has in common with all its relatives: the members of the botanical family Fabaceae, or in popular language, the legumes.
What is its origin and its characteristics?
this fantastic tree He is originally from Madagascar, specifically from the dry forest, located in the north and on the edge of the western half of the island, where it is in danger of extinction due to loss of habitat. It is well known by the names flamboyan or flamboyán, flamboyant, sneak, tabachín, malinche, ponciana or acacia (but not to be confused with trees of the Acacia genus). It was described by Wenceslas Bojer and William Jackson Hooker and published in Tellurian Flora in the years 1836-7.
Its growth rate is fast, reaching a height up to 12 meters in a matter of a few years (in appropriate conditions, it grows at a rate of 1 meter per year or so). It has an open crown, parasolated, formed by highly branched branches from which leaves 30 to 50cm long sprout, composed of 20 to 40 pairs of green leaflets or pinnae, which are divided in turn by about 10-20 pairs. smaller secondary pinnae.
Blooms in spring, producing a large number of large flowers, up to 8cm long, with four petals, usually red, or yellow in the variety Delonix regia var. flavid. The fruits are dark brown woody legumes, up to 60cm long and 5cm wide. Inside it contains brown, oval, leathery seeds, less than 1cm long.
What uses does it have?
Delonix regia var. flavid // Image sourced from Flickr/jemasmith
El Delonix direction It is a plant that is used more than anything as ornamental, in large gardens. Planted as an isolated specimen it is a wonder. But it must also be said that bonsai can be made, although once this is the case it is rare for it to flower.
Likewise, in Mexico it is also used as medicinal: the macerated bark applied to relieve the pain of rheumatism, and the decoction of the flowers taken orally to treat cough and asthma.
What care do you need to live?
This is the question that surely many ask themselves, especially those who do not live in climates that are too hot 🙂 . I did it myself once, well, several actually. And it is that so that this fantastic plant can grow well, with health, needs frost-free climates. Sun, water, and lots of space.
Its roots are invasive, and its crown, being wide It “forces us” to plant it at a distance of about ten meters from walls, walls, lattices, pipes and so on. If there is not so much space available, it could be kept in pots (pots) for many years, trimming its branches, but the truth is that it is not a tree that is recommended to prune, as it does not usually look good.
The soil or substrate must be fertile, with good drainage, and as we said, it must be kept moist.… but without going to the extreme. The ideal is to water about 4 times a week in summer and about 2 a week the rest of the year, and take the opportunity to fertilize it throughout the warm season with guano in liquid form, for example, or compost.
It multiplies very easily by seeds, if they are subjected to thermal shock (1 second in boiling water and 24 hours in water at room temperature). Unfortunately, if the temperature drops below 10 degrees centigrade it loses its leaves, and if there are frosts of -2ºC or more, it suffers irreversible damage.
Hello Monica.
I have loved it, unfortunately although our land is in the southern part of Gredos, which offers much milder winters, I am afraid that it would be a great risk to try to make it prosper, and it is a real pity, because it has a beautiful size and the flowers They are magnificent.
Thank you very much for your fantastic comments!
A cordial greeting,
GALANTE NACHO
Hello Nacho.
Yes, it is one of those trees that are very chilly. But I can tell you that adult and acclimatized specimens can withstand light frosts of -1ºC, perhaps -2ºC if it is for a short time.
a greeting
Hello, I have 2 acacia trees in my house of the same age, one of them is beautiful, it grew almost 6 meters and blooms spectacularly, the other the ants have not allowed it to reach its first flowering, it lives like a poor skeleton. What can I do?
Hello Gilca.
Try rubbing lemon against the trunk. It is a very effective natural remedy against ants.
In any case, look for aphids on the leaves. If so, spray/spray its leaves with water and a little neutral soap when it is no longer in direct sunlight.
Regards!
Hello Monica.
Well, then we even risk it! The species is worth it.
Thanks for your comment.
Nacho Gallant
The truth is that yes, it is worth it. But it's risky too hehehe
If there are weak and punctual frosts, and then it rises above 0 degrees, it could survive.
Well, tell me if you dare 🙂
All the tabachines give flower? ……I have one planted 8 years ago and it has never flowered
Hello Adriana.
Yes, they all bloom sooner or later depending on the weather, rain, whether they are fertilized or not...
But hey, if it's healthy, I don't think it will take much longer for yours to bloom.
regards
Can live in large pots and in greenhouses in winter
Hola!
In principle I would say no, since it is a large tree that needs space. But taking into account that there are those who have it as a bonsai, surely it can be kept in a pot, but you will have to prune it from time to time to control its growth.
A greeting.
Flamboyan is perennial or deciduous?
Hello Pearl.
It depends on the climate: if it is tropical and it rains regularly throughout the year, it behaves as a perennial. But in temperate climates, since there are four well-differentiated seasons, it loses its leaves in autumn/winter.
Greetings.
HELLO, MY TREE IS 1 YEAR OLD AND IT STILL HAS NOT FLOWERED, AT WHAT TIME DOES IT FLOWER?
AND IT IS PLACED ONE METER FROM THE WALL, DO I HAVE TO CUT IT? SINCE IT COULD BRING DOWN THE WALL AND THE WALL?
Hello Caroline.
If it is one year old, it is still too young to flower. Maybe it will in 3-4 years.
It's close to the wall, but it won't knock it down, don't worry. But what can happen is that it cannot develop its shielded cup well.
Regards!
Hello Hello
I have germinated three in a pot, they are now approximately three weeks old.
My question is when can I put it on the floor?
Hi Hilda.
You can plant them in spring, when they are about a foot or so tall.
Greetings.
You can put it at any time of the year as long as its substrate is the same as that of the pot in which it has grown and is sufficiently spacious. Thus, it will take several years to move from its first substrate to the final place. All this provided that the microclimate of one and the other are similar.
They gave me a small tree that they tell me is a tabachin but its leaves close at sunset and will be gone the next day and I have doubts if it is really a tabachin, is that normal in those trees?
Hi Guadalupe.
Yes it's normal. The trees of that family (Fabaceae, or legumes as they are also called), close their leaves at sunset.
Regards!
Why does my flamboyant tend to hang its branches down and the neighbors don't? Is it because you don't have much space? It is a meter and a half from the wall of the house on the sidewalk, although they are all planted more or less the same
Hello Adriana.
In part it could be because of what you say, but how often do you water it?
That a tree has its branches down may be because it lacks water.
Regards!