The Flamboyant (Delonix regia) is considered one of the most beautiful trees in the world due to the intense color of its flowers. It is lush, with a strong and slightly twisted trunk, reaching about 39 feet (12 meters) in height. Its canopy is very broad, umbrella-shaped, and can be wider than the tree’s height. The leaves are bipinnate (recomposed), formed by 10 to 15 pairs of leaflets, each containing 12-20 pairs of oblong and sessile leaflets.
The inflorescences, in racemes, appear when the tree loses its leaves and are composed of large, red or orange flowers. Each flower has a calyx with 5 sepals and a corolla of 5 petals, with long stamens. The fruits are pod-like, flat, woody, and large, about 18 inches (45 cm) long, turning brown when ripe. Flowering occurs in spring and summer. There is also a variety of Flamboyant called “Flavida,” which has completely yellow flowers.
The roots of the Flamboyant are quite aggressive, with some parts above the surface, making it unsuitable for ornamenting sidewalks, streets, or near water pipes, sewage, walls, and even electrical wiring. Its beauty stands out when planted alone or in small groups in large areas, such as parks, squares, and extensive gardens of residences, industries, and farms. As it is tolerant to soil salinity, it can also be used in coastal areas.
Its growth is quite rapid, reaching 5 feet (1.5 meters) per year until adulthood in warm climate regions. Depending on the region where it is planted, the Flamboyant can be deciduous or semi-deciduous. It loses all its foliage in places with well-defined seasons and preferably dry winters. In regions of high humidity or where there is not much difference between winter and summer, it is generally semi-deciduous.
The Flamboyant should be cultivated in full sun, in fertile soil, with periodic irrigation in the first year. It is drought-tolerant but does not tolerate intense cold, making it suitable for tropical, subtropical, and equatorial climates. It propagates by semi-hardwood cuttings or seeds. The seeds of the Flamboyant have slight seed coat dormancy that can be broken by scarification of one end or immersion in hot water (176°F or 80°C) for 5 to 10 minutes. Germination occurs about two weeks after planting.
