Cassia fistula - golden rain (Forest honeycomb)

Genus of over 500 species of annuals and perennials, shrubs and deciduous, semi-persistent and evergreen trees, native to the forests of tropical areas. Cassia fistula is a small tree up to 10-12 m tall with an expanding habit, from semi-persistent to deciduous, with leaves composed of 6-16 ovate leaflets of bright green color. The older leaves fall in periods of drought. From spring to summer the numerous scented, bright yellow flowers appear, collected in pendulous racemes up to 40-50 cm. The fruits are characteristic cylindrical legumes, dark brown in color, whose length varies from 25 to 50 cm; the seeds are lenticular.

Pedoclimatic needs
It prefers exposures in full sun, sheltered from the wind and loose, well-drained soil. A non-rustic tropical species, it should be grown outdoors only where temperatures do not fall below +4°/+5°C. Adult specimens are however more resistant to the cold and can resist for short periods even at temperatures close to 0°C.

Botanical information:
Botanical name: Cassia fistula
Family: Leguminosae