Hi all, I just got back from Belize and saw many of these. Ive also had them in Phoenix, but lost all in the big freeze this year. The largest one got to about 4 feet tall before the freeze took it out. I had constructed a green house of sorts around it with wood and plastic, but should have included some Xmas lights. I will do that next time.
My growing area is between the street, which obviously retains a lot of heat even during our winter, and a small 'dry pond' that is in my front yard and is topped with large river rock (also a pretty good heat sink). This area faces east and gets warmth first thing in the day. Frankly, I think my previous attempt would have been successful were it not for the record breaking freeze we got this year. It had almost 3" of caliper on base of the trunk, and was doing reasonably well until we got REALLY cold.
I talked with the locals (Belize) about this tree. Two things came to light: they like a lot of water when in the growth cycle, but, and this is most important to us sub-tropical growers, they NEED GOOD DRAINAGE (sound familiar to you plumie growers?).
One person had a beautiful, large tree with a more pinkish bloom that was only about 8 years old. He told me that he specifically planted this tree, and the gardeners who procured and planted it said that from their experience, it was critical that the soil have a lot of stones mixed in. For all practical purposes, that translates to good drainage.
After losing mine this year, I went and re-dug the hole where it was, and where the next will be placed. I removed the soil 5 feet down and mixed it with some landscaping stones I had, lots of large perlite from the hydro store, some Turface, coffee grounds and peat moss. My soil is notoroiously heavy clay, and I needed to lighten my native soil quite a bit if it was going to have anything like the drainage that I found most of the soils in Belize had. I broke thru to the softer sub soil and put some rock there, and then put the mixed soil back in. Ill let this sit and decompose all winter, then once soil temps get above 50F, I will re-mix the soil in the hole and check its drainage. With the breakdown of the organics, I may need to supplement with some composted manure or add a bit more drainage. Ill then transplant my seedlings (which are now about 2 ft. tall. A winter in the GH will put on another ft of growth). With my long growing season, Im hoping that it will survive that first winter, which should be all thats needed in my area according to some people who have lived here much longer than I. After that, the tree SHOULD be large and hardy enough to survive, barrring another 50 year freeze.
The first winter the plant will get the mini-greenhouse treatment, but it will also get Xmas lights to help keep temps up. Fortunately, that is only usually necessary from Nov. thru Jan in my area, but I will play that by ear.
Okay, so thats the brain dump from me on this plant and my plans. Anything that anyone can think of that Im missing?
DD
Royal Poinciana/Flamboyant Tree
Are you talking about Delonix regia (which is the plant in the original photo in this thread), or are you talking about Caesalpinia pulcherrima? It shares some of the same common names as Delonix but is a little hardier. Caesalpinia also comes in a pink flowered variety while I don't think Delonix does. I also wouldn't expect Delonix to survive outside anywhere colder than zone 10, but Caesalpinia will do OK in zone 9 if you help it along a bit while it's small and protect it during a bad winter.
I've grown the Caesalpinia pulcherrima for about 5 years but it has stayed small and never bloomed. I don't think it gets enough water where I have it and it is probably hungry too. Most winters it has kept it's leaves.
Sorry, wasnt clear. Delonix is what I was referring to. And, there are varieties that have a more pink bloom (there are caesalpinia with other bloom colors too. in fact, I have some seeds that im going to start this winter in the GH).
Delonix will grow here in AZ, with a little help for the first few years. It does succumb to a frost when young, but as it grows older, gets more hardy. There are several in PHX that survived the 50 yr. freeze of this past winter.
Interestingly, this last freeze completely took out a delonix that I had planted, but barely even scraped a cesalpinia not 10 feet away. Caesalpinia is hardier than most people think. Mine is massive now, and I chop it back to almost nothing each winter. They thrive in our heat.
DD
I brought back some seeds several years ago from Costa Rica...I started them last year, and planted a couple in the ground (original photo posting of this threat). I am rather surprised at the rate of growth. It was about 8 inches tall when I planted it this spring and it's now topping 7 feet. Since it's growing so fast, I'm beginning to dream and visualize blooms. Anyone know the approximate age the trees begin blooming?
Rj
thanks!...we'll see if it makes it through that many more winters!