False Poinciana Sesbania punicea
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Daubentonia punicea
- Phonetic Spelling
- ses-BAN-ee-uh pun-IK-ee-uh
- This plant has high severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Scarlet sesbane is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the coffee family that is native to South America. It has spread to the coastal plains of the USA and become invasive in some areas. It will grow to 15 feet tall and spread quickly, taking over native plant habitats. Even though it prefers wet sites, it has been found growing in moist disturbed areas as well. The flowers appear all summer and the seed pods remain on the plant all winter, rattling in the wind. The compound leaves are also attractive.
This plant prefers wet to moist slightly acidic soils in full sun to part shade. Even though it has been used as an ornamental, it is best not to plant it. There are some suggestions for native or non-invasive small trees to the left.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Sesbania
- Species:
- punicea
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Poisonous
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- High
- Texture:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasional Flooding
- Occasionally Wet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Winter
- Fruit Type:
- Legume
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- The 4-6 inch fruit is a 4-winged pod with slight constrictions and partitions between the seeds. The remain on the plant through winter and rattle in the wind. They can be dispersed by water
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Orange
- Purple/Lavender
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- fused petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are pea-like, red-orange or reddish purple, in drooping clusters. They have 5 fused petals and 5 fused sepals
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- The 5-6 inch long compound leaves alternate, pinnately divided with 6-20 pairs of leaflets with smooth margins. Oblong leaflets are 1 inch long with a pointed tip.
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Bark:
- Bark Color:
- Dark Brown
- Dark Gray
- Red/Burgundy
- Surface/Attachment:
- Lenticels
- Bark Description:
- The bark is gray-brown to red-brown with obvious horizontal lenticels.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Wiry green stems
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Landscape:
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Children
- Weedy
