Accession Count: 1
Common Name:
golden shower
Family Name:
Fabaceae
Botanical Name:
Cassia fistula
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Cassia fistula, commonly called golden shower tree, is a small to medium-sized fast-growing, upright tree tree that typically grows 10 m (30 feet) tall and wide (1, 2, 3). It typically has a single trunk, and has spreading branches that form an open, irregular-vase shaped canopy with a well-spaced branches, moderate density and medium texture (1, 3). Stems are pale grey, thornless, smooth and slender when young and dark brown, thick, rough and resistant to breakage when old (3). Leaves are deciduous, alternately arranged on the stem, and even-pinnately compound, with 4-8 elliptical leaflets and entire margins (1, 3). Each leaf blade is 30-45 cm (12 to 18 inches) long, and glossy green (1, 2). Leaves usually drop in April prior to flowering in May-July (2). Because of this brief loss of leaves, the tree is sometimes considered semi-deciduous or semi-evergreen (2), however, leaves return during flowering and are fully restored by July (1, 2). Leaves will turn bright yellow in fall (1). Flowers are bright yellow and form in hanging clusters 12 to 18 inches in length. They will typically bloom in May-June and produce a second, less significant bloom in September (2). The common name is inspired by the impressive production of blooms - five-petaled, bright yellow, lightly fragranced flowers bloom in 20-45 cm (8-18 inch). pendulous terminal racemes which cover the tree (1, 2, 3). The pods are initially green, and contain 25-100, 8-9 mm ellipsoid long, glossy, poisonous, and light brown seeds embedded in a black pulp (2, 3). These glabrous pods grow up to 60 cm (2 feet) in length, turn dark brown at maturity and persist on the tree through winter (1, 2, 3).
Compound:
Cas fis
Geographic Origin:
India
Ecozone Origin:
Indomalaya
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
The golden shower tree is native to India, Malaysia, and Southeast Asia (1). It is the National tree of Thailand and the national flower of Thailand and the state flower of the Kerala state in India (2, 3). Specific epithet means hollow like a pipe. The tree was introduced throughout the tropics and have escaped cultivation in Costa Rica, Guyana, and French Guiana and become naturalized in many parts of the tropics including the West Indies, Mexico, Ecuador, Belize, and parts of Micronesia (3). It is considered as an invasive in Queensland, Australia (3). The latin name "cassia" comes from the greek word "kassia" meaning fragrant and aromatic plant (3). Cassia fistula grows natively in deciduous forests from tropical to subtropical forest zones at elevations from sea level to 1300 m (3000 feet). i Because this species produces large amounts of seeds that remain viable for more than a year, and because it is able to propagate by cuttings and layering, it does have some potential to become invasive (3). The UF/IFAS Invasive Assessment Status indicates the species is not considered a problem at this time but it has been reported to be invasive in Queensland, Australia (1, 3). ==============================Natural History of the UA Campus Arboretum Specimen:
Accession # : 1539 was designated with special status as a university Heritage Tree in 2002. It was awarded this designation at the time since it was the only representative of the species in Tucson. In summer, it drops its leaves, then produces chains of golden orchid-like flowers from its bare branches. This striking tree is just one of dozens of trees introduced to the University of Arizona campus by Warren Jones. Records indicate this specimen was planted by Warren Jones in the late 1980's. After a few cold damages, it withstands most of Tucson's winters.
Cultivation Notes:
This plant is best propagated from seeds and, similar to many other hard-coated legumes, benefits from softening or scarifying the seed coat (1). It is suited for USDA hardiness zone 9b and warmer where annual temperature ranges from 18-29°C. It can tolerate temperatures to -4°C (25°F( and so, while it is not considered frost hardy in Tucson (Zone 9), it will regrow with warmer weather (1, 3). The tree on University of Arizona campus is thriving in a protected microclimate with a west-facing exposure. In Tucson (zone 9), the leaves renew each June after the spectacular bloom. As it matures hardiness has increased. The tree typically grows where rainfall is between 480 and 2720 mm (18-106 inches) and is considered moderately drought tolerant (1, 3). The tree prefers full sun but can withstand a moderate amount of shade especially where water or heat is less than ideal (1). It grows on a wide range of soils including sandy and loamy soils with pH from 5.5 to 8.7, though it does better in well drained, calcareous soils and red volcanic soils (1, 3) It has moderate tolerance to salt spray, and it is not a N-fixing tree (3). Roots and pests are usually not a problem, but pruning for shape/structure when young helps to create a stronger, more symmetrical canopy (1).
Ethnobotany:
Cassia fistula is a multipurpose tree. It is widely grown as an ornamental plant in tropical and subtropical areas due to its beautiful show of flowers (3). It is a suitable ornamental shade or street tree, formerly planted in urban areas as a street tree, but its use has waned with preference now for Cassia x nealiae, a related hybrid that does not drop as many leaves at flowering time and does not produce any seed pods (1, 2). . It has also been used as fodder and forage for animals as well as for fuel/charcoal, timber and for making wooden tools and construction (3). The bark yields tannins and dyes and the flowers are edible by people in India and used as a nectar source by bees (2). Because of its ability to resprout, Cassia fistula has been used to revegetate overgrazed lands (3). Cassia fistula is used extensively in ethnomedicine. Known for years as "Purging Cassia," Cassia fistula is currently advertised/marketed as an effective astringent purgative/laxative and is used for colic and flatulence. The active part used in medicine are the fruit or pods, which are pounded to release the sweetish pulp. It is this sticky brown pulp inside the pods that has most often been used in herbal medicines (2). Traditionally, the seeds have been found useful in the treatment of skin disorders, swollen throat, biliousness, and jaundice. Presently, there have been investigations into the medicinal use for its anti-oxidant properties (4). It has been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (4). The seed from the Cassia fistula tree appears to have anti-cancer and anti-bacterial properties in animal models (4). Leaf extracts are known for their anti-diarrhoeal activity demonstrated in laboratory studies with rabbits or guinea pigs while leaf and flower extracts have antibacterial activity in South Asian medicine (3).
Height:
20 - 50 feet
Width:
20 - 50 feet
Growth Rate:
Moderate Growing
Grow Season:
Summer
Flower Season:
ForeSummer
Color:
Yellow
Function:
Shade
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Tender
Water Use:
Moderate Water Use
Citations:
- University of Florida https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/ST127 Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- Missouri Botanical Garden Retrieved June 16, 2024. https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=280435 Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- Purdue University New Crops https://www.feedipedia.org/node/325 Retrieved June 16, 2024.
- Ethnobotany of the Arboretum Plants https://arboretum.arizona.edu/ethnobotany-arboretum-trees-0 Retrieved June 16, 2024.
