Delonix regia - Royal Poinciana blooming in San Diego, CA

[Palms1984]

I can't believe this Delonix regia - Royal Poinciana is blooming this year in San Diego, CA. We've had the coolest summer in about 100 years.

This Royal Poinciana and one other is blooming sporadically now in San Diego, CA. It just amazes me that any are blooming at all with such a cool summer! Last year this and other trees I know about bloomed like they were in Honolulu or Miami.

Check out my Delonix regia Photobucket album: http://s225.photobuc...2/Andyplantman/

[Palms1984]

Here's the other Delonix regia - Royal Poinciana blooming in San Diego, CA. Photo taken August 22, 2010.

[mnorell]

Glad to see that there are at least a few flowers this year, I know what a thrill it is to see even that in such a non-tropical climate as San Diego. All my years in SoCal, all I ever heard was how impossible they were other than in the most air-drained areas of the Coachella Valley.

One thing that I don't think has been mentioned here, Delonix have a photoperiod problem: they will not bloom at all (or very sporadically) if they are subjected to bright street lighting at night, particularly above the crown. There was a celebrated case of this on South Miami Avenue in Pinecrest (near Fairchild) where a huge group of boulevard trees that had always flowered beautifully for years were arrested in their blooming when tall street lights along the boulevard were erected years ago. Community protests finally forced their removal a year or so ago and voila! The trees apparently bloomed riotously this spring as a result. There are many, many tall street lights in SoCal and I think this should be considered as yet another complicating factor by anyone attempting to plant one of these in Southern California. Here's the link to the article: An explosion of color returns high in the trees

[Palms1984]

Glad to see that there are at least a few flowers this year, I know what a thrill it is to see even that in such a non-tropical climate as San Diego. All my years in SoCal, all I ever heard was how impossible they were other than in the most air-drained areas of the Coachella Valley.

One thing that I don't think has been mentioned here, Delonix have a photoperiod problem: they will not bloom at all (or very sporadically) if they are subjected to bright street lighting at night, particularly above the crown. There was a celebrated case of this on South Miami Avenue in Pinecrest (near Fairchild) where a huge group of boulevard trees that had always flowered beautifully for years were arrested in their blooming when tall street lights along the boulevard were erected years ago. Community protests finally forced their removal a year or so ago and voila! The trees apparently bloomed riotously this spring as a result. There are many, many tall street lights in SoCal and I think this should be considered as yet another complicating factor by anyone attempting to plant one of these in Southern California. Here's the link to the article: An explosion of color returns high in the trees

Thanks for all the information! We are lucky here in San Diego because we do have a very beautiful subtropical climate. Royal Poinciana does grow quite well here...and now I'm starting to see them more available in nurseries. I'm sure in the near future they will be quite common in many areas of southern California. They're much tougher than many people originally thought.

I was very surprised to see many large trees out in El Centro and Brawley, CA. This was even after the big January 2007 freeze. I'm sure Royal Poincianas just love the heat of the Imperial Valley.

[Palms1984]

Here's my Delonix regia - Royal Poinciana album: http://s225.photobucket.com/albums/dd262/Andyplantman/

[LJG]

I have a two foot high Cassia fistula flowering right now in Vista. The plant did not leaf out until August and is now flowering. It has been a crazy year!

[epicure3]

I have a two foot high Cassia fistula flowering right now in Vista. The plant did not leaf out until August and is now flowering. It has been a crazy year!

Now THAT is very cool. Do you have a pic?

[LJG]

I do on my iPhone that I have been sending to people. Let me get a pick on my camera and post it.

[fastfeat]

Glad to see that there are at least a few flowers this year, I know what a thrill it is to see even that in such a non-tropical climate as San Diego. All my years in SoCal, all I ever heard was how impossible they were other than in the most air-drained areas of the Coachella Valley.

Anyone got pics of desert-area Delonix? (I don't doubt that they are there; I just seldom get out there much.) The farthest east CA trees I've seen before were in Riverside.

[Luisd]

Royal poinciana in Málaga, in hot mediterranean climate.In Spain this tree only can grow in some areas of coast of Andalucia and the Canary islands, pics of 20 july:

Luis

[Palms1984]

Royal poinciana in Málaga, in hot mediterranean climate.In Spain this tree only can grow in some areas of coast of Andalucia and the Canary islands, pics of 20 july:

Luis

Those are terrific photos! Are many of the parks in Málaga widely planted with Delonix regia - Royal Poinciana trees?

[LJG]

I have a two foot high Cassia fistula flowering right now in Vista. The plant did not leaf out until August and is now flowering. It has been a crazy year!

Now THAT is very cool. Do you have a pic?

Here is a twig of a plant flowering. Cassia fistula.

[Peter]

Nice Len-Leon directed me to a 20' flowering C. fistula in West Hollywood last week. Now let's hope we can keep those bakerianas alive to flower.

[LJG]

Nice Len-Leon directed me to a 20' flowering C. fistula in West Hollywood last week. Now let's hope we can keep those bakerianas alive to flower.

Sure it was flowering and not just dressed in drag?

[Palms1984]

Nice Len-Leon directed me to a 20' flowering C. fistula in West Hollywood last week. Now let's hope we can keep those bakerianas alive to flower.

I've seen the Cassia fistula -- it's very spectacular. There's also large flowering C. fistula trees located at Disneyland.

I have a friend who has some Cassia bakeriana which are doing very well in Fallbrook.

(On the subject of Cassia) In the photo below I'm standing in front of the largest of three Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) trees located at the Fullerton Arboretum. To the extreme left is a large Cassia grandis - Coral Shower tree.

Edited September 13, 2010 by Palms1984

[fastfeat]

Nice Len-Leon directed me to a 20' flowering C. fistula in West Hollywood last week. Now let's hope we can keep those bakerianas alive to flower.

I've seen the Cassia fistula -- it's very spectacular. There's also large flowering C. fistula trees located at Disneyland.

I have a friend who has some Cassia bakeriana which are doing very well in Fallbrook.

(On the subject of Cassia) In the photo below I'm standing in front of the largest of three Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) trees located at the Fullerton Arboretum. To the extreme left is a large Cassia grandis - Coral Shower tree.

I only know of two Delonix regia at Fullerton. This tree has been there since 1988. The tree at the SE corner was planted in '01 and usually blooms much more heavily. The Cassia grandis, sadly, was removed a few years ago, for some unknown reason.

[mnorell]

Nice Len-Leon directed me to a 20' flowering C. fistula in West Hollywood last week. Now let's hope we can keep those bakerianas alive to flower.

If it's the one on Oakwood, it's the one I grew from Hawai'ian seed and planted there as a one-footer in a landscape job in 1988. It grew like crazy up against the south-facing front of the house and first bloomed at about three years of age. It has always set lots of seed as well. Most of that landscape has been removed by the owners, but the Cassia fistula, a Plumeria and one surviving Veitchia (I think McDanielsii, purchased from RSN) are about all that remain. There also used to be a Spathodea but it was removed as well. There used to be another one not too far away (I think on Citrus, planted as I remember as a street tree) but I spoke to the owner about it years ago and he said it had refused to bloom (I think too much shade from surrounding trees). These are perfectly hardy and showy bloomers in SoCal, but they must have complete full sun and southern exposure to do their thing.

[Peter]

That's the one Michael. And there were indeed lots of seed pods on the tree.

[fastfeat]

That's the one Michael. And there were indeed lots of seed pods on the tree.

Peter--

Check those seeds carefully. Most seedpods on CA trees don't develop fully mature seeds; I only got one seed to sprout (despite having dozens of pods) from that (now gone) South Gate tree. The tree at Fullerton Arb (the one seedling from the South Gate tree) also set lots of pods, but no seed (so far) has been viable.

[mnorell]

I'm in L.A. For a few days and just went by an hour ago, most of the flowers are done now. It's quite late this year...normally early August is its height as I remember.

[Peter]

Ken, I didn't pick any seeds-just noted the seedpods. And Michael, everything is very late this year due to an extremely cool summer.

[BigFrond]

My C. fistula loses half of its branches every year due to neglect (2gal). I will pot it in a 15 gal this year and see what will happen.

[MattyB]

Glad to see that there are at least a few flowers this year, I know what a thrill it is to see even that in such a non-tropical climate as San Diego. All my years in SoCal, all I ever heard was how impossible they were other than in the most air-drained areas of the Coachella Valley.

Anyone got pics of desert-area Delonix? (I don't doubt that they are there; I just seldom get out there much.) The farthest east CA trees I've seen before were in Riverside.

Here's one in in El Centro area that I stumbled across one day.

[MattyB]

I can't believe this Delonix regia - Royal Poinciana is blooming this year in San Diego, CA. We've had the coolest summer in about 100 years.

This Royal Poinciana and one other is blooming sporadically now in San Diego, CA. It just amazes me that any are blooming at all with such a cool summer! Last year this and other trees I know about bloomed like they were in Honolulu or Miami.

Check out my Delonix regia Photobucket album: http://s225.photobuc...2/Andyplantman/

Andy,

I was at the Zoo this weekend and the trees that you have labled in your photobucket album, from the Zoo, as Delonix didn't look like Delonix to me. I'm not sure what they were, maybe Enterlobium. I'm not 100% positive on this but they just didn't look like Delonix to me. Any thoughts?

[paulgila]

matt can you make those pictures any BIGGER?

[fastfeat]

Glad to see that there are at least a few flowers this year, I know what a thrill it is to see even that in such a non-tropical climate as San Diego. All my years in SoCal, all I ever heard was how impossible they were other than in the most air-drained areas of the Coachella Valley.

Anyone got pics of desert-area Delonix? (I don't doubt that they are there; I just seldom get out there much.) The farthest east CA trees I've seen before were in Riverside.

Here's one in in El Centro area that I stumbled across one day.

Thanks Matt. Was that cold damage from this year? Any evidence of blooms?

[fastfeat]

I can't believe this Delonix regia - Royal Poinciana is blooming this year in San Diego, CA. We've had the coolest summer in about 100 years.

This Royal Poinciana and one other is blooming sporadically now in San Diego, CA. It just amazes me that any are blooming at all with such a cool summer! Last year this and other trees I know about bloomed like they were in Honolulu or Miami.

Check out my Delonix regia Photobucket album: http://s225.photobuc...2/Andyplantman/

Andy,

I was at the Zoo this weekend and the trees that you have labled in your photobucket album, from the Zoo, as Delonix didn't look like Delonix to me. I'm not sure what they were, maybe Enterlobium. I'm not 100% positive on this but they just didn't look like Delonix to me. Any thoughts?

Andy--

I couldn't open them to see.

_______________________________

BTW, if anyone wants Enterolobium contortisiliquum or Peltophorum dubium seed, LMK via PM. I'm in Tampa for a few more days, and there should be plenty of seed locally.

[Palms1984]

I can't believe this Delonix regia - Royal Poinciana is blooming this year in San Diego, CA. We've had the coolest summer in about 100 years.

This Royal Poinciana and one other is blooming sporadically now in San Diego, CA. It just amazes me that any are blooming at all with such a cool summer! Last year this and other trees I know about bloomed like they were in Honolulu or Miami.

Check out my Delonix regia Photobucket album: http://s225.photobuc...2/Andyplantman/

Andy,

I was at the Zoo this weekend and the trees that you have labled in your photobucket album, from the Zoo, as Delonix didn't look like Delonix to me. I'm not sure what they were, maybe Enterlobium. I'm not 100% positive on this but they just didn't look like Delonix to me. Any thoughts?

Matt:

I've spoken with the head horticulturist at the San Diego Zoo. The two large trees are indeed Delonix regia, which were planted in 1992.

[MattyB]

Cool, thanks Andy.

FastFeet, I have no info further info on those El Centro Delonix other than the pics I took last year.

[Palms1984]

Glad to see that there are at least a few flowers this year, I know what a thrill it is to see even that in such a non-tropical climate as San Diego. All my years in SoCal, all I ever heard was how impossible they were other than in the most air-drained areas of the Coachella Valley.

Anyone got pics of desert-area Delonix? (I don't doubt that they are there; I just seldom get out there much.) The farthest east CA trees I've seen before were in Riverside.

Here's one in in El Centro area that I stumbled across one day.

Matt:

Very healthy looking tree! It appears to have had some frost damage, probably in January 2007. I've seen several trees in Brawley just north of El Centro. Some trees had frost damage and others amazingly had no damage at all.

[sur4z]

Glad to see that there are at least a few flowers this year, I know what a thrill it is to see even that in such a non-tropical climate as San Diego. All my years in SoCal, all I ever heard was how impossible they were other than in the most air-drained areas of the Coachella Valley.

One thing that I don't think has been mentioned here, Delonix have a photoperiod problem: they will not bloom at all (or very sporadically) if they are subjected to bright street lighting at night, particularly above the crown. There was a celebrated case of this on South Miami Avenue in Pinecrest (near Fairchild) where a huge group of boulevard trees that had always flowered beautifully for years were arrested in their blooming when tall street lights along the boulevard were erected years ago. Community protests finally forced their removal a year or so ago and voila! The trees apparently bloomed riotously this spring as a result. There are many, many tall street lights in SoCal and I think this should be considered as yet another complicating factor by anyone attempting to plant one of these in Southern California. Here's the link to the article: An explosion of color returns high in the trees

This tree has electric wires above it but no lights.

[fastfeat]

Glad to see that there are at least a few flowers this year, I know what a thrill it is to see even that in such a non-tropical climate as San Diego. All my years in SoCal, all I ever heard was how impossible they were other than in the most air-drained areas of the Coachella Valley.

One thing that I don't think has been mentioned here, Delonix have a photoperiod problem: they will not bloom at all (or very sporadically) if they are subjected to bright street lighting at night, particularly above the crown. There was a celebrated case of this on South Miami Avenue in Pinecrest (near Fairchild) where a huge group of boulevard trees that had always flowered beautifully for years were arrested in their blooming when tall street lights along the boulevard were erected years ago. Community protests finally forced their removal a year or so ago and voila! The trees apparently bloomed riotously this spring as a result. There are many, many tall street lights in SoCal and I think this should be considered as yet another complicating factor by anyone attempting to plant one of these in Southern California. Here's the link to the article: An explosion of color returns high in the trees

This tree has electric wires above it but no lights.

Now that's how they're supposed to look (at their best).

Is this a Dade Co tree or in Palm Beach?

[Palms1984]

Glad to see that there are at least a few flowers this year, I know what a thrill it is to see even that in such a non-tropical climate as San Diego. All my years in SoCal, all I ever heard was how impossible they were other than in the most air-drained areas of the Coachella Valley.

One thing that I don't think has been mentioned here, Delonix have a photoperiod problem: they will not bloom at all (or very sporadically) if they are subjected to bright street lighting at night, particularly above the crown. There was a celebrated case of this on South Miami Avenue in Pinecrest (near Fairchild) where a huge group of boulevard trees that had always flowered beautifully for years were arrested in their blooming when tall street lights along the boulevard were erected years ago. Community protests finally forced their removal a year or so ago and voila! The trees apparently bloomed riotously this spring as a result. There are many, many tall street lights in SoCal and I think this should be considered as yet another complicating factor by anyone attempting to plant one of these in Southern California. Here's the link to the article: An explosion of color returns high in the trees

This tree has electric wires above it but no lights.

Beautiful photos! What time of the year were these photos taken?

[DoomsDave]

Glad to see that there are at least a few flowers this year, I know what a thrill it is to see even that in such a non-tropical climate as San Diego. All my years in SoCal, all I ever heard was how impossible they were other than in the most air-drained areas of the Coachella Valley.

One thing that I don't think has been mentioned here, Delonix have a photoperiod problem: they will not bloom at all (or very sporadically) if they are subjected to bright street lighting at night, particularly above the crown. There was a celebrated case of this on South Miami Avenue in Pinecrest (near Fairchild) where a huge group of boulevard trees that had always flowered beautifully for years were arrested in their blooming when tall street lights along the boulevard were erected years ago. Community protests finally forced their removal a year or so ago and voila! The trees apparently bloomed riotously this spring as a result. There are many, many tall street lights in SoCal and I think this should be considered as yet another complicating factor by anyone attempting to plant one of these in Southern California. Here's the link to the article: An explosion of color returns high in the trees

This tree has electric wires above it but no lights.

Gadzooks!

I think when the time comes, I'll recover the Swooning Sofa in that color . . . . .

[Brian Bruning]

Does anyone know where in SoCal I can get 2 to 15 gallon trees of D. regia? I did get a D. elata (a desert specie) from Top Tropicals in FL but the shipping is expensive.

[Palms1984]

Does anyone know where in SoCal I can get 2 to 15 gallon trees of D. regia? I did get a D. elata (a desert specie) from Top Tropicals in FL but the shipping is expensive.

Brian:

Walter Anderson last year was selling 1 gallon and 5 gallon sized Delonix regia. The 5 gallon sized trees were around 5ft tall.

Here's a pic.

[bubba]

I was trying to look for the post that Silas mentioned on another site and ran into this. Pedro never answered the question about where it is located. It is located in PB and blooms exotically each year between late April and May. I am still looking for the other forum Silas mentioned but have no doubt that they flourish even in the marine zone of Ca. but likely not as vibrant as in the desert. Just a flat out guess!

[bubba]

Pedro’s beauty on Mother’s Day 2022 driveby. Not as spectacular as in that year but we shall see: