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The Oz Garden Gallery

Cassia Time

20 years ago

This time of year the Cassias are in full bloom in Cairns. There are so many varieties and hybrids and they always impress with their beauty. I think they are the most beautiful of all tropical trees with a range of colours that outshine their showier rivals.

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This is C bakeriana from Burma, growing in a suburban garden at Freshwater.

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The most beautiful of all, the Red Cassia - a hybrid of C grandis and C javonica

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This little beauty is growing in the parkland at the Esplanade. The flowers on any one tree vary from light green, though yellow to pink and bright red.

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And of course C fistula. They are so common that we tend to forget how magnificent they are in full bloom.

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And finally, one of our own. From North Queensland an undescribed species C. Paluma Range. This tree growing at Yungaburra on the Atherton Tableland.

Grant

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Comments (8)

ashmeri
20 years ago
Grant , how wonderful they all are, We have a lot of Cassia Fistula round Rockhampton and area but I haven 't seen any of the others, do they grow well by seed ?

Marion
User
20 years ago
Hi Grant. Thanks for those pic I just love C.Fistula. They have just pretty flowers Great pics too. I miss all those beautiful flowering trees from the North.

Marion this answers your question.
I have two C.Fistula trees here grown from seeds that I bought down from my trees in Townsville in 1999 I planted the seeds in little pots ( going back through my gardening diary ) in feb 2002 and they germinated in Sept so it must take 6 mts or brissie is too cold then maybe I planted them at the wrong time of the year. They have a big seed and sit in this brown sticky stuff I think they are know as the cascara tree??? so maybe that is what it is. Mine are not doing too well, it could be the weather, mind you with all the new growth at present every morning I go out and get 50 or more caterpillars off both trees ( Light green ones that eat the cabbages ), they are always covered in them and I find if I get all the 1mm ones off by the dozens they dont get to grow into the 5mm ones a couple of days later, hubby comes along and squashes them in the leaves and ruins the foliage so I am at the point where I may have to buy some thing to spray them with, just to give them a fughting chance. They have not grown much in all that time about one meter, maybe it is too cold here as I have never seen one anywhere but I like a challenge. So yes you will not have any problem growing them from seed.....Cheers..MM.
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Hi interestingly the flowers have turned a medium burnt orange . Some are pink and some are yellow when first opened . The tree is pushing 25 feet and produces a very lacy shade . It is semi deciduous and HATES cold lol. Have never seen another except fairchild have planted some phal ,maxilaria and brassidium orchids on the lower trunks light seems almost ideal and they rooted immediately to the bark. Have my eye on a cochliostemma false bromeliad ) recently located one after years of searching Very excited about that asd I think it will be an ideal setup . Thanks gary
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I meant thin as not thick like a magnolia trees leaves. Not thin like tiny,like on a thorny cassia or an acacia tree,or a poinciana tree. Eric 9B the flowers in that last picture looks the same, BUT, those leaves are VERY VERY tiny next to my leaves. I meant my leaves are not thick,like on an orange tree, or a magnolia. They are paper thin and they are the Splendida tree. Those leaves in your last pictures are what I expect on an Acacia tree with comes with thorns all over it. THAT is my next tree! I need to find that tree....anyone got seeds and care to share?? I have many neighbors I would love to keep from touching MY gardens flowers! Have them reach through an acacia tree/shrub to get some flowers, and get a nice sharp surprise!! People are helping themselves to my Golden Chalice flowers every night! I go to bed with 12 flowers open,and wake up with 1 left! And they didnt ripen and fall off!! My 3 trees are the Splendidas. No new scales so far,and the leaves are holding on. So...they go in the ground in about a month or less. Got to be sure the bugs are gone first.
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Hi* Well if it produces seed it sure not common lol Only other one I've seen is at Fairchild gdns and it was brilliant red so maybe I don't have roxburghii ?? Flowers opened pink/yellow and matured into a burnt orange color I like it for the light lacy sjhade it produces have planted phals ,maxilaria and brassidium orchids Saving a spot between the two for Cochlistemma jacobiana (false bromeliad > Searched for years for one of these . It can either stay in the pot or climb the tree . very excited about this oner lol Crossing fingers about the seeds almost ideal for epiphytes !!
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Hello Bella, Are these teensy little tannish white eggs? If so, I have found them many times on things. I find them on my fig netting, laid along the strings and I've found them on laundry when I used to hang the wash out to dry. Several times, I've seen teensy little black caterpillar-looking things that resemble banana seeds (on the inside of the banana.) I've been trying to find out what these eggs are for about three decades! I never knew if I should destroy them, or leave them be. Thanks, noss
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greencroc
20 years ago
Brings back memories of my old stamping ground,lovely pics Grant,is the one at Freshwater close to the swimming hole and bridge,or near the pub,greencroc.
Jan_Willem_John
20 years ago
Beautiful photos very colourful this time of the year.
JWB
ashmeri
20 years ago
Memories, memories, here too Greencroc.
About 55 year [can't believe it is that long ago] we had a little pineapple farm on the banks of the Barron river next to the Kamarunga bridge at Redlynch which was way out of town now it is a suburb of Cairns, and they call it progress.

We didn't swim in the river but often went to the Freshwater swimming hole for a dip.
Our place is now a Caravan Park and the roads all seem to be different.
Grant_fnq
Original Author
20 years ago
Hello Greencroc and Marion,
The C. bakeriana is about 200m from the Freshwater Creek bridge back along Brinsmead Road. I suppose Brinsmead is a better description of where it is, but I did not want to confuse the issue with those not familiar with the geography of Cairns. The same tree features in Margaret's Barwick's book "Tropical and Sub-Tropical Trees".
Marion, your caravan park on the banks of the Barron is soon to be demolished for a new residential development of some kind. It is progress, as you say, but who knows if it will be for good or ill.
Grant
greencroc
20 years ago
Got yer! thanks Grant,greencroc.
TammySara
20 years ago
what great pics of beautiful trees

tammy

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