Family: Fabaceae

Yellow poinciana is a flowering tree with an upright, rounded crown.

Its native range is from SE Asia to Northern Australia.  From May to September, yellow poinciana puts on a glorious display of yellow flowers. The grape-like aroma is most potent at night. A fast-growing, drought-tolerant tree, it thrives on the leeward side, providing much-needed shade. It was widely planted in Honolulu in the early 1900s. Unfortunately, it has a very shallow root system. A devastating hurricane in 1918 wiped most of them out. Some have been replanted in the last 100 years.

The bark is used as a yellow dye, and the wood is commonly used in woodworking. It also has many medical uses. It fixes nitrogen and readily germinates by seed.

Plant Uses:

• Cut flower
• Medicinal
• Nitrogen fixer
• Ornamental
• Shade
• Specimen
• Woodworking

Plant Dangers:

• No dangers

High Risk Traits:

• History of repeated introductions outside native range
  
• Naturalized in Florida and Hawaii (O'ahu)
  
• Potentially naturalizing on Kaua'i and Maui
  
• Produces viable seed
  
• Wind-dispersed seeds (winged pods)
  
• Persistent seed bank (seeds dormant for months)
  
• Intentionally spread by people (widely cultivated)

Low Risk Traits:

• Not a weed (no agricultural, environmental, or garden weed status)
  
• No spines, thorns, or burrs
  
• Palatable and non-toxic to animals (leaves used as cattle feed)
  
• Not shade tolerant (requires full sun)
  
• Narrow soil preference (well-drained only)
  
• Low seed production (1–5 seeds per pod)
  
• Slow to mature (flowers at ~4 years)
  
• No vegetative spread
  
• No dispersal by water, birds, or animals