Raintree
Samanea saman
- Native to:
- Belize, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panamá, Venezuela
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:
- 3000 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- High
- 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, mammals
- Salt Tolerant:
- 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
- Scarification:
- Seed coat scarification required before sowing
- Germination Time:
- 7–30 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require scarification (nicking or hot water treatment) to break hard seed coat; germination occurs in 1-4 weeks.
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