Colvillea Species, Colville's Glory Tree, Whip Tree

Easy to grow from seed, seeds resemble pumpkin seeds so germination is similar. Nick seed on side, soak in 1:10 peroxide/water for 24 ho...Read Moreurs, then into folded paper towel squeezed as dry as possible after soaking in same solution, then into Ziploc bag for 3--5 days, lighted room, temp. 75-78F. Check daily starting at day three, to continue growth germinated seed should be moved immediately into 3-5 oz. cups of lightly moist potting mix, about 1/2" below soil surface. Germination rate for me was 70% for ten seeds, three seeds floated at 24 hours so they were probably immature. I was very happy with this method, sure beat waiting 2-3 moths to determine results.

Potted plants are now 24-36" tall at 10 months, they did have a dormant period from November through February here in Florida. (Photo in gallery)

I love my tree, bloomed the second season I got it (This year) first year it took off great 4 foot growth first year but the second year ...Read Moreslowed down considerable. Thank goodness, I almost thought it was going to be a weed like the Royal Poinciana, but its darling not near as big (In a monster type way) perfect for my yard because we butterfly garden, it fits in perfect, we always ad a good stream of visitors but we never had so many flutterbugs and hummingbirds until this tree bloomed, the visitors never stopped. We were enthralled!! I got my little tree off Ebay.

Hi, long time reader first time commenter, I'm the Supervisor at The City Botanic Gardens in Brisbane, we have several mature and some 5-...Read More8 year old young specimens. They flower brilliantly here, sometimes twice a year, seems to coincide with higher rainfall stats. Parrots and bees love them and photographers can't stop clicking away at them.

However, I was surprised to see it as requiring continuous watering.
C. racemosa is a native of Madagascar and I understand grows ...Read Morein a similar environment to the other well known natives, Delonix regia and D. decaryi, which are from semi-arid environments.
I have never seen one flowering in my country, Trinidad and Tobago, as I believe rainfall is too high (about 2000mm yearly).
I have four plants that I grew from seeds sent to me from a kind lady in Germany (surprising?) in exchange for some seeds of the "Bootlace tree" - Eperua falcata - a native of Guyana, which grows very well in our national Botanic Gardens in Port of Spain. My Colvilleas are only 3 years old and are in pots until later this year.
George de Verteuil, Trinidad,