Good luck in finding them, as I've been looking for a while! A few years ago one ebay seller was offering them, but they never germinated or survived beyond seedling stage for me. No-one has offered any seed since. One seller offered me a plant that was called 'Yellow poinciana', but I've become convinced it's a Peltophorum because the foliage is so much coarser than that of the Delonix. So do make sure that the person supplying them knows that it's the Delonix you're after.

Hi Cestrum, I've sent you an email.

Cheers, Scott

No email received--I think the email service isn't working because I tried sending one to myself from within GardenWeb and it hasn't come thru. Perhaps you could just post to this forum?

No Worries - The gist of it was that I have located two nurseries in FNQ that have D. regia var. Flavida, but no mail order source yet. Mad About Plants was one, they have it listed in their online catalogue in 45lt bags and 300mm pots. Too big to travel far. I'll be over there in July so I might pop into Limberlost in Cairns and see what they have - they said they get seedlings in occasionally.

You are right about the Peltophorum species being called yellow poinciana, we have two on our nature strip, and while nice enough trees they are no poinciana.

Also I have some Cananga seedlings just sprouting, so in a few months they should be advanced enough to travel. I was given 160 seed by a friend who no longer has the tree, so if they all germinate I will have a few spares.

Cheers, Scott

Oh yes - and I'm looking for an Amhurstia nobilis as well if you know where to find one...

Agree about the Peltophorum--not a patch on the poinciana, and not as pretty as many of the yellow-flowered Caesalpinia species either, I think. (I have red-, yellow- and pink-flowered varieties ... at least, that's what the seed was sold to me as. I'll have to wait until they flower to be certain.)

Thanks for your kind offer of Cananga seeds, but another GardenWeb member gave me some last year and they germinated amazingly well. I was so thrilled when they sprouted! If they survive my first Ipswich winter I might have some to give away myself. (I guess I should update my member page too.)

Never heard of the Amhurstia/Amherstia before, but some Google research shows that it's uncommon outside Burma (hence 'Pride of Burma). Best of luck in finding it. Perhaps you should list it in a separate 'wanted' message?

A few seeds of ridgey-didge yellow poinciana have been disemminated from central Queensland over the last ?three years or so. I can quickly think of several tees in Mackay and Rocky and even a point in between. Watching one for ripening pods when I walk the dog so there's a possibility for you. Parks and Gardens in Rocky expressed a view that they should breed true to type. There are two fairly vigorous progeny at the Gold Coast which are who-knows-how-long off flowering. Calling peltophorum Y.P., as many books, do, is soo irritating.

This pic was posted back then. The YP trees seem to have a more weeping form to the foliage.
{{gwi:2116013}}

Rose

Thanks Rose - Great photo! That's exactly what I'm after. My sister lives in Rocky so I might prevail upon her to collect me some seed. Although she has a mature red poinciana dominating her yard (an absolutely gorgeous tree) I'm not sure she will know which ones are the yellow ones from memory. I may be in Rocky in September, so if you let me know which trees to target I may be able to collect some seed myself.

The Darwin poincianas are undergoing a second flush of flowering at the moment - not as spectacular as the October/November flowering, but welcome all the same. It's only my first year in Darwin so I'm not sure if it's a regular thing.

Cestrum, apologies over the spelling of Amherstia, I knew as soon as I posted I'd misspelt it. I can get Brownea and Saraca here, which are of the same family, but it's human nature to want what you can't have...

Cheers, Scott

Scott, I fell in love with that vivid clear yellow as soon as I clapped eyes on it. I know of some individual trees (4 between Mackay and Parkhurst; the one at Parkhurst does it really tough with soil compaction, I'm wary of it in case it's also not a 'good doer'.), and would be most confident remembering the ones in the median strip leading to the airport when they flower. Spotted one in a private garden to the west of the highway mid-November; of course, I don't remember where exactly. South of Gin Gin?? It was a fine specimen even from a distance.

How about you (and anyone else who is suffering from lack of YP seeds) flick me an email, I'l flag it and keep the project in mind.

The most spectacular flowering of red and orange poincianas (and cassias and flame trees) was in Charters Towers in a very dry Nov 2003, not a leaf to be seen.

Cheers
Rose

Rose, I can't seem to see your photobucket image (something to do with my particular PC setup, a bit tired now to fiddle with it), but I certainly envy you your walks! (And the dog too--should be getting my own soom.) My first view of poincianas--not even in flower--was at Brisbane airport. Just loved the sweeping horizontal shape of them. So 'Out of Africa'.

Scott, didn't mean to nitpick over spelling, just had never heard of the genus before and didn't know how to spell it myself. Only human nature to want what we don't have, of course. Google images show it as having a spectacular flower ... perhaps you should book a flight to Burma :-) Perhaps *I* should book a flight north!

They do grow in Brisbane - There were trees at strathpine which I will check out next time Im near there. I have one growing (still in pot) which has survived the cold of the western suburbs of brisbane so should be ok in your area cestrum.. I find the problem with them here has been borers which seem to really get into them when they are stressed. This doesnt seem to be such a problem in more humid areas.

Two growers at Yungaburra Markets (North Qld) sell marcots and, very seldom, established seedling of Amerhestia nobilis "Queen of the Trees". Have not yet been able to contact grower selling under Harvey Creek Exotics and not sure how either fared in path of cyclone Larry. Waiting list has been up to six months and going price $150 per plant. Plants from both growers have been very well established. Can let you know more details if I see traders at next markets 4th Saturday in April?.

Wow, thanks for all the replies! This is *almost* a discussion thread (insert rolling-eye emoticon here)

Cestrum - If I could, I would... But Kuranda, you've given me hope again. $150 for my holy grail of flowering trees... no worries (well, once I convince the other half of its worthiness first).

But you make a good point about cyclone Larry, I know some friends of mine had their beautiful gardens (some of them 30 years of hard work) swept bare by the cyclone. It's going to take years to recover for some of the specialised nurseries, and first many have to rebuild homes before they can re-establish their gardens.

Still, I'd appreciate any Amherstia news from the Yungaburra markets.

Plantsplus, borers killed my colleague's YP in Gove - I was waiting on some seed but it never recovered enough to flower that season, and so they chopped it down and planted a weeping rosewood :(

Thanks again guys, I'd forgotten how generous the gardening bunch is!

Cheers, Scott

Scott, way back in ... 1985? I paid $100 for a potted grafted Japanese maple about two feet tall. (I was very young and foolish.) For the past 15 years or so it's been growing in my parents' Melb garden, and its branches sweep out and down to the ground: quite beautiful. $150 is still cheaper than a return flight to Burma--just don't plant it near the front fence!

5 acres and decades in which to fill it with the plants of your choice--an entire avenue of poincianas if you so choose. Lucky you!

cestrum
sent you an email through your page, hope the spam blocker didn't eat it.
Rose

Hi Rose--no email received. Not yours. Not the one Scott sent. Not the one I sent to myself as a test. Is it GardenWeb or just my email a/c?

cestrum,
received one from Scott ok, also a test from moi. Makes you wonder!

Mine is a gmail address, and I used your name in the body of the message if that helps.
Rose

Hi, I live in Kuranda near Cairns, and I know where their about 4 trees flowering and setting seeds,but most Yellow Delonix need to be grafted.But,and theirs a but, you can always try seeds and see if they run true. If you email me,and when the next seed set, I can certianly send you some.Cheers Sue

Ari wh,
Will keep you posted on Amherstia nobilis contacts. Both growers also have several Brownea species, which like the Amherstia throw magnificent pendant flushes of coloured new growth along with beautiful flowers. As Island girl would know, I will probably need gentle reminder after April markets to remember to bring you up to date. There are some pretty rabid rare plant collectors here in Kuranda! Cheers.
Peter

Emails sent to me via the GardenWeb email page aren't getting thru, so I've disclosed my email address to members on my GardenWeb page.

Islandgirl: the ebay seller who sold me the Flava seeds said they would grow true (ie yellow). He's in the industry, and I've found his stock to be very reliable. Judging from other people's comments, though, it seems that the Flava cultivars are not as hardy as the common red ones. Perhaps that's why you've heard that they should be grafted.

I bit the bullet and rang Queensland Tubestocks who have D.regia var Flavida on their stock list. I didn't get to speak to a propagator (as opposed to a mock gator?) who told me they produce their tube stock from seed. I belive they supply to the NT so if all else fails there may be an avenue there through a local nursery. But it's much more fun trading and gettnig to know your fellow gardeners.

I think you are right cestrum, grafting on to common root stock would increase it's vigor and stimulate early flowering. I've heard Poincianas grown from seed can take up to 10 years before they flower, so if grafting accelerates this I can understand why it would be common practice with the yellow specimens!

Cheers, Scott

Hi Scotty,
Happy New year and thanks for the card.
Did I give you any Y. poinciana seed when you were here? The Amherstia grower down here got hammered by Larry but i have spoken to him since and he has managed to save some if not all the established Amherstias in his immaculate garden. Unfortunately demand far outweighs supply (at least when I talked to him). Don't despair 'though it is available.
Did Ari get the Yello Spathodea? There is a large one near here, I will keep an eye on it for seed.
Later,
BC

I remember in when living in Townsville a couple of years back my neighbours had a medium sized yellow Delonix that was a very spindly and weak tree, but when in flower was worth the bother. I always meant to collect some seed from it but just never quite got around to it before I moved away. There is also a yellow Delonix overhanging the front gate of the botanical gardens in Townsville that was a fairly nice specimen and stunning in flower.
I have seen Delonix flowers here in Darwin that are mainly white with just a bit of red. If they didnt take so long to flower from seed it would be interesting to try to develop a white flowered variant.

footfullabindiis
I would be very interested in getting some seed of one of the white Delonix trees that you have seen. Has anyone else seen any of the white/near white Delonix Regias?