Castanospermum australe

[Eric in Orlando]

Our Castanospermum australe, Black Bean Tree, is flowering for the first time. It was planted June 1995 and is now about 30 ft. tall. Most of the flowers are currently on the lower part of the tree. It will be a real site in a few years when it flowers heavily. The vivid color stands out against the dark green, glossy foliage.

[Jeff Searle]

Eric,

Very nice, as you saw mine growing in the yard, I really look forward when mine comes into flower someday. I had no idea it had orange flowers. Thanks!

Jeff

[LJG]

Interesting. I have one that flowers every year and it is half that size. Also, it flowers in summer here in SoCal. I wonder if SoCal is actually a better growing climate for these so they flower earlier?

Also, I have heard the beans are poisonous. True? Either way, I remove the pods that form after flowering.

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

I think they come from Australia's rainforests. The difference between FL and CA is that your upside down climate encourages more blooms and less growth while ours is just the opposite. The one we have in the Arboretum grew three tops so I had to select only one. It is 15 or twenty feet I think and no sign of blooms yet.

I also think they have some toxins but I think some people specially prepare them for eating. Or then again, it could be a faulty memory.

Great pics as usual Eric.

Jerry

[LJG]

They come from Morton Bay.

They do grow slow here.

[_Keith]

Cool tree. Any idea on the cold hardiness of this?

And if suspected hardy in Zone 9a, any idea on where to get seeds?

[rozpalm]

  Palmarati said:

Cool tree. Any idea on the cold hardiness of this?

And if suspected hardy in Zone 9a, any idea on where to get seeds?

Very cool tree. Zone 9-12

[Daryl]

In the mountains around here they turn into huge rainforest canopy trees. In cultivation they don't grow to the same heights, but assume a more compact shape with a dense canopy. They flower really well in shade or sun once they are old enough. One of our nicer natives, and grow alongside Firewheel trees (Stenocarpus) in habitat.

Daryl

[simona]

  Palmarati said:

Cool tree. Any idea on the cold hardiness of this?

And if suspected hardy in Zone 9a, any idea on where to get seeds?

Had a three year old one in a pot but it didn't survive the last winter in 9a.

[Jeff Searle]

  Daryl said:

In the mountains around here they turn into huge rainforest canopy trees. In cultivation they don't grow to the same heights, but assume a more compact shape with a dense canopy. They flower really well in shade or sun once they are old enough. One of our nicer natives, and grow alongside Firewheel trees (Stenocarpus) in habitat.

Daryl

Thanks Daryl for the good information.

Jeff

[Eric in Orlando]

I think below 24-25 would severely injure the tree. There was formerly a big one at Leu Gardens but it was killed in the 12/89 freeze (2 nights at 19-20f). So probably 9b/10a tree.

I checked and the raw seeds are poisonous but edible if cooked or roasted.

I have seen these trees recently in box stores foliage plants. Its sold as a small "bonsai", either braided or several seedlings together, sold as Lucky Nut. Probably the same marketing BS as Lucky Bamboo. IKEA always has them.

Jeff, it was funny when we looked at your tree and I said ours had never flowered then Fri. I notice flowers!

[mnorell]

Keith--

Definitely not hardy in 9a. I planted one in Natchez a few years ago, that one carked it mid-20s in a protected spot. Another, same thing the next year. As Eric mentioned they didn't make it in the '89 freeze in Orlando. Too bad, as other plants from this area of Australia are hardier...but it's also native to New Caledonia and that may explain its lack of hardiness.

[BigFrond]

Mine flowered 2 years ago in a 15 gal pot. It was about 15 ft tall and was always knocked over from the wind. I figured it was root bound, so I lopped off the tree down to 3 inches. It has grown back to about 4 ft. The San Diego Wild Animal park has many in the Australian Rain Forest. I saw a 7 footer that has many of the bean pods (size of a burrito). I decided against growing it in my yard because it can get very big.

[Gan Eden]

  Daryl said:

In the mountains around here they turn into huge rainforest canopy trees. In cultivation they don't grow to the same heights, but assume a more compact shape with a dense canopy. They flower really well in shade or sun once they are old enough. One of our nicer natives, and grow alongside Firewheel trees (Stenocarpus) in habitat.

Daryl

Hi Daryl

I have one in a pot standing about a metre and a bit and would like to ask if I should plant in full sun or part shade here in our much less rainfall and humidity hot summers part of West Oz?

Cheers

Lee

[Daryl]

Lee, most definitely part shade. They are a rainforest species that starts on the forest floor and grows up to the light. I have seen them planted here in full sun in the lawn, and never fed etc...yellow, spindly, sad specimens! Give them what they are adapted to and they will reward you.

Daryl

[Gan Eden]

  Daryl said:

Lee, most definitely part shade. They are a rainforest species that starts on the forest floor and grows up to the light. I have seen them planted here in full sun in the lawn, and never fed etc...yellow, spindly, sad specimens! Give them what they are adapted to and they will reward you.

Daryl

Shall do, thank you Daryl.

[Justin]

A good tree here in Cali. One of the few tropical looking true evergreens. I have an issue with blooming (i.e. mine don't), but they grow just fine, albeit a little slow. No damage whatsoever with our bad freeze in 2007. The glossy leaves are nice even without blooms, but I'd really like some blooms here and there.

[fastfeat]

Seems to grow faster, is more vigorous, in FL, but blooms better in the drier conditions of SoCal.

Here's a tree, probably planted in the 1920's, at Chavez Ravine Arboretum, near Dodger Stadium:

[Tyrone]

I've got a little seedling in my understory and planted two Chamaedorea elatior next to it to climb up the Black Bean, but I think that the Chamies will dwarf the thing as it's so slow.

Best regards

Tyrone