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Trees & Shrubs - Australia

When will my Poinciana reshoot ?

20 years ago

Hi All,

As a semi-deciduous plant in these latitudes (I'm in Rocky, right on the Tropic of Capricorn), Delonix Regia spends several months shedding its leaves, then seems to burst forth with new growth almost overnight. The problem is that I cant remember when this miracle occurs - December rings a bell, but I'm not sure that my shade-lovers can wait that long ...

Thanks,

Artie

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Comments (7)

goldhills
20 years ago
Don't give up hope my poinciannas have just started to re-shoot in the last few days. My shade lovers are starting to suffer a little and the yard looks hotter without the shade they create. Another couple of weeks and the shade should be back.

Because of the warmer winter than usual, they actually didn't lose all their leaves, though most of what was left blew off in that really windy weather a couple of weeks ago.
User
20 years ago
Yes well mine still has the old leaves on it too.
But that wont be for long with these strong winds we are getting at prsent.
Patience Artie good things come to those who wait...Cheers...MM.
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artiew
Original Author
20 years ago
Thanks, MM and goldhills - very reassuring that we are all in the same boat !

I had begun to wonder if the trees might be waiting for rain, but they seem to reshoot in even the driest years. Have to chuckle when I see my neighbour putting out his large sprinkler in an effort to get his lawn going - he's got (my) two Poincianas on one side, and a huge Mango on the other : their respective root systems would have found their way under his thirsty lawn years ago :)
User
20 years ago
Artie I had a good look at mine today with the glasses on this time
And yes there were some shoots about 2ins or 5cms long Great news
So it wont be long now and it will be mass of green..Cheers..MM.
rarrgh
20 years ago
hi,

I got three small poincianas growing at the moment.
2 lost all leaves over winter, one managed to hold onto a few... and now all have new shoots coming out, they started about a week ago... (near rocky too)
artiew
Original Author
20 years ago
Thanks for all the feedback - on closer inspection, there *are* new shoots on the main tree, and it does seem to be regaining its foliage. Many of the other Poincianas in Rocky seem to be doing a lot worse, though - a storm is predicted this evening, and I'm hopeful that this will spur them into action.
goldhills
20 years ago
Just want to mention the difference between poinciannas and wonder if anyone else is the same?

We have 3 trees and a neighbour has 1, 2 of mine still look like they are alive when they haven't got leaves but my other one and the neighbours both look like they are dead when bare of leaves. The branches on these 2 go dark brown, dry and dead looking while the others stay light brown/greyish and obviously still alive.

This happened last year as well and we were worried that they had died but both trees sprouted new leaves as usual at the same time as the normal looking ones and when fully leafed didn't look any different. The dead looking ones are reshooting now, the same as the others so obviously are ok again.

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