Cassia Fistula, Golden Shower Tree - 0.5 kg Seeds

The Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistula), known across India as Amaltas or Bahava, is a medium-sized deciduous tree celebrated for its spectacular hanging racemes of bright golden-yellow flowers in early summer, followed by long, dark, cylindrical pods. With its open, spreading crown and pinnate leaves, it is one of the most loved flowering avenue and garden trees of the country and is the state flower of Kerala.

Native to India and Southeast Asia, it grows throughout the plains and lower hills, tolerating heat, drought and a wide range of soils. It is planted mainly as a flowering ornamental and avenue tree, while the dark pulp of its pods is a well-known traditional purgative and the tree has many uses in Ayurvedic medicine.

• Family: Fabaceae (Caesalpinioideae)
• Native region: India and Southeast Asia
• Mature height: 10-15 m
• Growth rate: Moderate

The seeds have a very hard coat, so scarify them or pour hot water over them and let them soak for 24 hours before sowing. Sow about 1-2 cm deep in bags or trays of well-drained mix in summer or with the monsoon; germination usually takes 2-3 weeks. Grow the seedlings on through a season and transplant them out during the rains.