Raintree
Samanea saman
- Native to:
- Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panamá
Basile Morin
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Genus:
- Samanea
- Species:
- Samanea saman
- USDA Symbol:
- SASA10
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Tree
- Height:
- 2500 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Medium
- Bloom Months:
- mar,apr,may,jun
- Bloom Colors:
- pink, white
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Anypsipyla univitella, Black Witch Moth (Ascalapha odorata), indomitable melipotis moth (Melipotis indomita), Syssphinx quadrilineata
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- birds, bees, butterflies
- Salt Tolerant:
- Yes
- Fragrant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- rich, well-drained loamy soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 8.0 (acidic to slightly alkaline)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- dry to moderate
- Notes:
- prefers deep soils with good fertility
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- None required
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–21 days
- Notes:
- Scarification by hot water treatment or mechanical abrasion greatly improves germination rates. Seeds germinate readily after treatment.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Scarification by hot water or mechanical means, followed by an overnight soak in clean water. Seeds can then be pregerminated on paper towels or direct sown into containers.
Establishment: The plant is native to dry American Tropics but is widely cultivated and naturalized in Asia, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and the Pacific Islands. It can flower and bear seeds throughout the year, although seed production is heaviest in fall through spring.
Source: npn.rngr.net