Schotia BRACHYPETALA

Schotia BRACHYPETALA - Weeping Boer-bean, Schotia brachypetala, Tree Fuchsia.

A flowering tree in the legume family Fabaceae, comprising only 4 species of South African trees and shrubs. A spreading medium-to-large tree growing up to 20 m (66 ft), but more often from 5 to 10 m (16-33 ft) depending on conditions. The crown spread can vary from 5 to 15 m (16-49 ft). Trees grown in poor soil or under very arid conditions are usually smaller (about 5 m (16 ft) in height with a 5 m (16 ft) crown spread) and feature sparser foliage.

Trunk architecture varies from single-trunked specimens to sparingly branched multi-stemmed trees. The bark is smooth, ranging from gray to light brown across trees. The leaves are compound, consisting of four to eight pairs of leaflets. Each leaflet has an entire, wavy margin and is attached by a stalk to the rachis. The flowers are numerous, deep red, brimming with nectar. Flowers generally appear in spring, though the exact timing varies from tree to tree. The fruit is a hard woody pod about 15 cm (5.9 in) long that splits open on the tree, releasing seeds.

Schotia brachypetala is native to southern Africa south of the Zambezi River, where it grows in scrubby bushveld and along riverbanks. This species is often cultivated in tropical and subtropical regions as an ornamental tree.

A small to medium-sized tree reaching up to 16 m (52 ft) in height. The bark is gray, turning brownish with age; young branches are pubescent. Leaves are leathery, glabrous, paripinnate, with 2-7 pairs of oblong or ovate leaflets. Many-flowered panicles develop directly on the trunk and large limbs. The calyx is deep red, 4-lobed, about 1.5 cm (0.6 in) long. Petals are tiny, thread-like, not projecting past the calyx. There are 10 stamens, fused at the base. Fruits are leathery pods around 5 cm (2.0 in) long, with few seeds.

By seeds and cuttings. Semi-hardwood cuttings are taken in summer and rooted in a mixture of perlite/vermiculite or loose soil, applying rooting hormones and placing them over bottom heat.

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In winter, cool maintenance at 10-15 °C (50-59 °F) is recommended; in summer, the plant can be taken out onto a balcony or into the garden. It withstands brief frost down to -1 °C (30 °F). In hot summer weather, a container of water can be placed nearby. It appreciates frequent misting, but take care that water does not fall on the flowers. Brief exposure to bright direct sunlight will cause no harm.

The main soil requirement is permeability; a drainage layer must be placed at the bottom of the pot, as schotia cannot endure stagnant water. Young plants are repotted annually in spring, mature ones every 2-3 years while refreshing the topsoil layer. The root system is vigorous, so pots should be deep and tall. During active growth, watering is abundant; in winter, watering is reduced to a minimum. Beginning in spring, universal fertilizers for flowering ornamentals are applied; feeding ceases in October. If winter light is low, cut watering sharply; the plant will shed some or all leaves, regrowing fresh foliage in spring. The dormant period may not even occur if sufficient light is provided.

First flowering appears at 3-4 years of age and lasts from early May through October. If a cool overwintering (12-15 °C (54-59 °F)) is provided, the plant blooms more luxuriantly and profusely. A flowering schotia looks especially impressive and mesmerizing in spring, when brilliant flame-red blooms emerge on bare limbs before the leaves emerge. It tolerates pruning well, even hard pruning, thereby allowing size control in confined spaces.