Cassia spp.
cassias
Tropical Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas
Overview
Cassia spp. is a genus of about 30 species of tropical trees and large shrubs in the legume family, Fabaceae, following the transfer of most herbaceous and shrubby members to the genus Senna spp.. The remaining cassias are mostly medium to large trees 20 to 65 feet (6 to 20 m) tall with spreading crowns and pinnate leaves made up of several pairs of oval leaflets. The flowers are five-petalled and borne in showy clusters, ranging from bright yellow to pink and rose, often covering the tree before or with the new leaves. C. fistula, the golden shower tree, hangs long chains of yellow flowers, while C. javanica and others carry pink to crimson blooms. Flowers are followed by long, cylindrical, pendent pods 12 to 24 inches (30 to 60 cm) or more in length, which turn dark and woody and contain seeds set in pulp. The genus is spread across tropical Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas and is widely planted as a street and shade tree in warm regions. Cassias are frost tender and need heat to flower freely, and the heavy pods and litter fall can be a drawback over paths and paving.
Native Range
The genus is spread through the tropics of Asia, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. C. fistula, the golden shower tree, is native to the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia, while other species come from tropical America, Africa, and Australia. The genus is not native to North America.Suggested Uses
Cassias are planted as flowering street, park, and shade trees throughout the tropics and subtropics, and C. fistula is grown as a festival and avenue tree in South Asia. The spreading crowns cast light shade over lawns and seating areas. The heavy pods and dropped flowers make them less suited to narrow beds and paved areas.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height20' - 65'
Width/Spread20' - 50'
Bloom Information
Flowering is mainly in late spring and summer, though timing varies with species and climate, and some bloom more than once a year in the wet tropics. C. fistula flowers heavily for a few weeks in early summer, often before the new foliage is full. The long pods develop slowly over the following months and may hang on the tree into the next season.
Detailed Descriptions
Flower Description
Yellow to pink or roseFoliage Description
GreenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 8-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight