Peltophorum pterocarpum

The yellow poinciana carries its flowering above a wide umbrella of fine, ferny foliage, upright spikes of golden, lightly fragrant flowers through summer, followed by coppery seed pods. Peltophorum pterocarpum is among the most generous shade trees of the tropics, with a broad crown and dependable colour year after year.

In the landscape

A canopy and avenue tree for warm climates, streets, parkland, resort-style grounds and large gardens where broad summer shade is the point. The fine bipinnate foliage casts a light, dappled shade that lawns and underplanting tolerate well. Allow room for a crown approaching the tree's height in spread.

Growing notes

For tropical and warm subtropical coastal gardens, north Queensland through to south-east Queensland; frost-tender, and not suited to cold or southern inland sites. Fast-growing; evergreen in the true tropics and briefly semi-deciduous through cooler or drier winters. Matures around 10–15 m tall by 8–12 m wide in the ground. Best in full sun on well-drained soil, tolerating coastal exposure and periodic dry.

This tree

• Currently standing: 192 trees

Field-grown ex-ground at Donkin Farm, Utchee Creek, root-pruned and basket-lifted, delivered and craned Australia-wide; price on application through the Shortlist.