Description

General aspect and origins - Sesbania punicea, syn. Daubentonia punicea syn. Piscidia punicea is also known as rattlebox, black acacia or scarlet wisteria. This plant, that belongs to the Fabaceae familly, is not as known as other flame-tree looking shrubs. However, Sesbania punicea grows easily in mild climates and has very ornamental orange-scarlet flowers.
Leaves - This plant has decidious, alternate and compound leaves. Each leaf has up to about 15 pair of leaflets, each leaflet being about 1 in (2-3 cm) long.
Flowers - This species has very ornamental orange-red flowers, which are grouped in clusters, and appear in late-spring and summer.
Fruits - Sesbania punicea has 4-angled seed pods that contain about half a dozen seeds.

Culture

This plant has very ornamental scarlet flowers and is well worth growing in USDA zones 9, and could be tried in sheltered places of zone 8b.
Soil - This plant requires a well-drained ground.

Propagation

This plant is easily propagated by seeds.