Colvillea Racemosa, Golden Flower Tree - 0.5 kg Seeds

Colvillea racemosa, Colville's Glory or the Golden Flower Tree, is a striking medium to large deciduous tree of the legume family with a fern-like crown of feathery bipinnate leaves resembling its relative the Gulmohar. In autumn it produces long, pendent racemes packed with brilliant orange, claw-shaped flowers that draw nectar-feeding birds.

It is grown almost solely as a spectacular flowering ornamental and avenue tree, planted as a specimen in large gardens, parks and along boulevards for its dramatic hanging sprays of orange bloom. Native to Madagascar, it is cultivated in the warm plains of southern, western and central India, favouring full sun and deep, well-drained soils and tolerating dry spells once established.

• Family: Fabaceae (Caesalpinioideae)
• Native region: Madagascar
• Mature height: 10-15 m
• Growth rate: Moderate to fast

The seeds have a hard, water-resistant coat and need pre-treatment. Scarify each seed or pour hot water over them and soak overnight until they swell, then sow the swollen seeds about 1-2 cm deep in a well-drained tray or polybag kept warm. Germination takes roughly 14-21 days; grow the seedlings on and transplant to their permanent spot once they are 25-40 cm tall and the rains have begun.