Delonix ELATA

Delonix ELATA - White gulmohar, Yellow gulmohar, Delonix elata.

Delonix is a genus of tropical trees of the Fabaceae family, comprising about 12 species and distributed in Madagascar and tropical regions of Africa and Asia.

Plants of this genus are deciduous trees with a broad crown, fine pinnate leaves, and bright flowers. Trunks are often swollen, in some species with a caudex-like base. Delonix trees are known as ornamental trees with abundant and long-lasting flowering.

Flowering occurs in the warm season. Flowers are large, bright, gathered in inflorescences, with petals often asymmetrical. Fruits are long flat pods containing 10-20 large flattened seeds each.

Delonix elata is a slender tree up to 10 m (33 ft) tall, with a spreading, umbrella-shaped crown. Leaves are bipinnate, light green, shedding in the dry season. The trunk is smooth, grayish-brown, with small prickles on young plants.

Flowering is observed from spring to early autumn. Flowers are large, creamy-white or yellowish, with bright stamens and spotted petals. Inflorescences are dense, fragrant. Fruits are flat pods up to 30 cm (12 in) long, dark brown. Seeds are large, hard, flat.

Before sowing, seeds are soaked for 8-12 hours in warm water. Then they are sown in a sandy moistened mix. The container is covered with film, germination is carried out in bright diffuse light at a temperature of 25-28 °C (77-82 °F). Daily aeration is conducted.

Seedlings emerge in 1-2 weeks. After 2-3 true leaves appear, seedlings are potted into separate containers. Young plants are provided with maximum illumination, careful watering, and protection from chills. First flowering begins in 3-4 years, lasting from May to October. Flowering looks especially spectacular in spring with the near complete absence of leaves.

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Growing in a brightly lit place with mandatory access to direct sunlight is recommended. Illumination should be intense, with brief exposure to direct sun permitted. Indoors, the plant is placed on south or southwest windows. Supplementary lighting is recommended in winter. In hot weather, a container of water is placed nearby to increase humidity, and frequent misting is also recommended, avoiding water contact with flowers.

In summer, a temperature of 24-32 °C (75-90 °F) is maintained. In winter, maintenance at a temperature of 10-15 °C (50-59 °F) is preferable. The plant withstands short-term frosts down to -1 °C (30 °F). Vegetative watering is carried out generously; in the winter period watering is reduced to a minimum. With a lack of light in winter, the plant may drop its leaves, forming new foliage in spring. If illumination is sufficient, the dormancy period might not occur.

A loose, permeable substrate with the addition of sand and perlite is used. Drainage must be laid at the bottom of the pot. Delonix does not tolerate stagnant moisture. Young plants are repotted annually in spring, mature ones - once every 2-3 years with replacement of the top substrate layer.

From early spring until autumn, fertilizers for ornamental flowering plants are applied once a month. From October, feeding is discontinued. With cool wintering observed, flowering occurs more profusely. Delonix tolerates formative and even hard pruning well.

Sanitary pruning of dry twigs is carried out. Formative pruning is possible to maintain a compact shape. Propagation is carried out by seeds. Cuttings are not used.