The MGS Forum

Plants for mediterranean gardens => Trees and Shrubs => Topic started by: Jaken on November 18, 2020, 09:57:28 PM

Title: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Jaken on November 18, 2020, 09:57:28 PM
I have started some Delonix regia, Flame tree, Flamboyant from seeds. Hoping to plant them next year in my summerhouse in Croatia, Dubrovnik.
I know that this is a gamble since it does not withstand sub zero temperature according to literature. Its only sub zero temperature every five years. Hoping that the tree will grow a massive trunk before first cold winter.

Does anyone have experience in this fast growing tree in a Mediterranean climate. Do you think it will survive south Croatia?
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Jaken on November 26, 2020, 03:21:34 PM
I assume that the lack of response means that no one has tried these trees and that you think they are doomed  :D
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: John J on November 26, 2020, 05:00:28 PM
Delonix regia do grow here in Cyprus at low altitudes, sometimes as street trees. They survive summer temperatures that often reach 40 degrees C for long periods, however we do not get excessive cold or frosts at that altitude which I don't think they would tolerate. I don't know what your temperatures are where you are as I have, unfortunately, never had the opportunity to visit, so I cannot comment on the chances for your trees. Sorry.
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Jaken on November 26, 2020, 09:47:22 PM
Thank you. Cyprus is more south then where my summerhouse is.

Dubrovnik is in the same latitude at Rome, Barcelona.

I'm only there during the summer so I don't know exactly what the wintertemp is when it's the lowest.

Googling history says that the average temp is not below zero although I've understood that sub zero temp do happen every other year.

No first hand experience?
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Jaken on November 26, 2020, 10:13:21 PM
Here they are, 3 weeks old seedlings.
Hoping that they will reach 5 feet before next winter.
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: John J on November 27, 2020, 07:30:47 AM
I have no personal experience of attempting to grow this tree, but those temperatures on the chart do not look promising. Most literature states that it needs tropical or near-tropical conditions, although it will withstand drought. Also it seems to prefer light, sandy soils with plenty of organic material, while struggling in heavy clay soils.
Having said that the old saying is, Nothing ventured nothing gained, so good luck and I hope you succeed.
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: David Dickinson on November 27, 2020, 10:00:58 AM
Hi Jaken

I am in Rome and the annual temperature chart you show looks very similar to temperatures here. Summer days can be 40°C and I have known 42°C but the norm is 35/36°C. We have nights in January and February where we drop below 0°C for a few hours. Usually 2 or 3 nights per month.

I have never seen Delonix here. Nor have I seen it in Naples,  where I used to live, which has slightly cooler summers and warmer winters than we do in Rome. Perhaps you could get somebody to fleece the young trees when cold nights are expected? Do you have gardening neighbours in Dubrovnik?

I agree with JohnJ, though, if in doubt try. I have tried with lots of plants from my sisters' gardens in the UK. 90% have been failures but one or two have survived. Good luck.  :)
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Jaken on November 27, 2020, 07:03:51 PM
David, John tank you for feedback. Looking like it's a Big gamble to try these trees.

I do have a garden friend that looks after the house when I'm not there. I'll try to protect them at least the first winter.

If I succeed I'll share all my finding with you.
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Jaken on January 20, 2021, 10:28:19 PM
They are getting bigger by the day. Just hoping they won't get to big before spring since they have to fit my suitcase.
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: David Dickinson on January 20, 2021, 10:37:52 PM
Lucky you, Jaken. The days of taking things backwards and forwards to our homeland in our suitcases may well be over for we Brits.  :( I shall try on my next flight to the UK as I have lots of cuttings to pass on but who knows what customs will say if they search my bag!
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Jaken on January 21, 2021, 12:46:48 PM
Lucky you, Jaken. The days of taking things backwards and forwards to our homeland in our suitcases may well be over for we Brits.  :( I shall try on my next flight to the UK as I have lots of cuttings to pass on but who knows what customs will say if they search my bag!

No worries David, you can send your cuttings to me instead  ;D
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Jaken on June 04, 2021, 07:24:11 PM
They are getting bigger. This is from May. In July they are going into the ground.  8)

(https://i.postimg.cc/TLTpsd4c/IMG-20210429-115653.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/TLTpsd4c)

(https://i.postimg.cc/8FpGQ7Ts/IMG-20210429-115730.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/8FpGQ7Ts)
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Jaken on July 08, 2021, 12:17:30 PM
Finally my flamboyant trees are in the ground. Had to fold them to fit them into the suitcase, and they didn't like that treatment at all. Lost a lot of leafs.
7 months old trees and now about one meters tall.
Brought three specimens and planted them in three different locations in the garden. One in full sun, one next to a wall facing south and the third in a sheltered location that only receives sun in the afternoon.

Now let's hope they can handle the relocation from Sweden to Dubrovnik, Croatia.

(https://i.postimg.cc/tZ3ThfnJ/IMG-20210707-174653.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/tZ3ThfnJ)
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: David Dickinson on July 08, 2021, 01:07:56 PM
Fingers crossed for you. Keep us posted :-)
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Jaken on September 26, 2021, 10:39:31 PM
They are still looking good. Now let's just hope for a warm winter.

(https://i.postimg.cc/nhq1bzb0/IMG-20210921-095219.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/MnKB1zGQ)
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: David Dickinson on September 27, 2021, 07:26:04 AM
Good luck. Let's hope that in a few years' time you will be posting photos of trees covered in flame-red flowers. :)
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Umbrian on September 27, 2021, 07:57:56 AM
Have been following this thread with interest - your trees certainly have grown  well and look very healthy. This winter will be the testing time so fingers firmly crosssed that they make it through.
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Charithea on September 27, 2021, 06:13:35 PM
I wish you luck with the Delonix regia. They are amazing trees but when in flower they are magical.They are planted here in Cyprus on the pavements in the main roads. They absorb all the exhaust fumes and still flourish. We have not had success with them.
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Jaken on September 29, 2021, 09:27:15 PM
I wish you luck with the Delonix regia. They are amazing trees but when in flower they are magical.They are planted here in Cyprus on the pavements in the main roads. They absorb all the exhaust fumes and still flourish. We have not had success with them.

So you have tried them yourself, what was in your experience the reason that you didn't succeed?
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Charithea on September 30, 2021, 10:45:43 AM
Hello Jaken. Yes, I have tried many times from seeds and bought plants. I don't know the 'scientific' reason why they die but I believe it is that every now and then we have cold winters -1degree centigrade and a very cold North wind cuts through our garden. In our immediate neighbourhood there aren't any Delonix Regia growing but there is one about 500 meter from here. It is not as large as some of the ones in town although it is quite old.. The tree is shielded by the cold wind by the adjacent houses. On the plus side we do have a Spathodia campanulata and a Tipuana tipu.
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Jaken on October 11, 2021, 06:14:47 PM
Kept one last plant back here in  cold Sweden on the balcony. Now I have moved it indoors and will keep it as a backup until next spring if the three that are in the ground don't make it through this winter. Let's see how it handles indoor climate. Looks quite nice  :)

(https://i.postimg.cc/sBxy3qLw/IMG-20211009-105907.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/sBxy3qLw)

(https://i.postimg.cc/R3YmhG59/IMG-20211009-105913.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/R3YmhG59)


Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Jaken on January 02, 2022, 01:21:00 PM
Just wanted to share the growth of this tree when it's indoors. It grows 30 cm in a month even indoors under a led light. I planted the seeds in oktober 2020, so in a year it has reached 170 cm.

Regarding the plants that are outdoors,  the coldest temp so far is 4,6 this winter. So fingers crossed that the temp in January stays above 0 this first winter.

(https://i.postimg.cc/hJSQjXR3/Screenshot-20220102-131810.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hJSQjXR3)

(https://i.postimg.cc/S2CdhX61/IMG-20220102-125514.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/S2CdhX61)

(https://i.postimg.cc/WtPLJgH3/IMG-20220102-125610.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/WtPLJgH3)


(https://i.postimg.cc/HJ40vGdF/IMG-20220102-125650.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/HJ40vGdF)
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Charithea on January 05, 2022, 01:45:57 PM
Many congratulations on getting your tree to reach this height. We all hope that your others will survive the winter outside. It is wonderful to succeed against all the obstacles. We have acquired a Wigandia caracasana towards the end of October. I am happy to report that it is thriving and it has started to form a clump of flowers. Apparently they take time to open up. I waited a few years to get it so I will wait patiently for the flowers to open.
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Jaken on July 24, 2022, 11:38:33 AM
Ok, so here is an update on this experiment. The Delonix did survive the winter, it did die back a bit but resprouted.

Unfortunately I had a building project in the garden  this spring, a new stone wall was built. The workers emptied 2 tons of stone on the poor little tree and I consequently died 😢

But the experiment continues, I have planted two new trees in the garden. Fingers crossed that these two survives  the winter 2022/2023.



(https://i.postimg.cc/R68LwXXZ/IMG-20220723-185412.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/R68LwXXZ)

(https://i.postimg.cc/vxYxg9dZ/IMG-20220723-185438.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/vxYxg9dZ)

Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Hilary on July 25, 2022, 08:42:06 AM
I hope all goes well with your two new trees
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Jaken on July 02, 2023, 10:15:21 AM
Update on my attempt to grow these beautiful trees.
Unfortunately my last attempt didn't survive winter. I might just have to accept that these trees can't handle the climate here in Dubrovnik.

I have one last speciment at home on the balcony that is getting a fatter trunk, maybe that's a future key to success. I have one last spot on my property that might have a better micro climate.

(https://i.postimg.cc/hXHvN13c/IMG-20230702-105522.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/hXHvN13c)

(https://i.postimg.cc/2VQ010hX/IMG-20230702-105512.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/2VQ010hX)
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: David Dickinson on August 13, 2023, 01:03:04 PM
Have you tried covering them with fleece during the colder months? At least until they get established. My sister grows cassia plants in a pot in Leeds UK. The same plant has survived winters outdoors over several years, including "the beast from the east" wrapped in fleece. Might work for you?
Title: Re: Success with Delonix regia, Flamboyant?
Post by: Jaken on August 22, 2023, 09:42:36 PM
Have you tried covering them with fleece during the colder months? At least until they get established. My sister grows cassia plants in a pot in Leeds UK. The same plant has survived winters outdoors over several years, including "the beast from the east" wrapped in fleece. Might work for you?

No I haven't tried covering or protecting them at all. Unfortunately I'm only in the house during summer and when I leave in the fall its still to hot to wrap them up in some kind of protection.

I think I'll plant my last specimen in the spring and one final time hope for the best.

I'll keep you posted