Family: Fabaceae

A single-trunked tree with a densely-branched spreading crown. An excellent shade tree that requires little maintenance. Copious amounts of red flowers are produced in the Spring and Summer.

Plant Uses:

• Edible
• Medicinal
• Nitrogen fixer
• Ornamental
• Privacy / screening
• Specimen
• Windbreak

Plant Dangers:

• No dangers

High Risk Traits:

• Naturalized in China
  
• Repeated introductions outside native range (India, Pakistan, Mauritius, Hawaii, Florida)
  
• Nitrogen-fixing (can alter soils)
  
• Bird-dispersed (aril attracts birds)
  
• Water-dispersed (found along rivers/streams)
  
• Persistent seed bank (germinates after storage)
  
• Tolerates wide range of soil types

Low Risk Traits:

• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Not allelopathic, parasitic, or toxic
  
• Palatable to grazing animals
  
• Not shade tolerant (requires full sun)
  
• Does not form dense thickets
  
• Slow to mature (~5 years to flowering)
  
• Low seed production (1–3 seeds per pod)
  
• No evidence of fire hazard or herbicide issues