Description
Caesalpinia pulcherrima var. white is a tropical ornamental shrub or small tree known for its graceful clusters of pure white flowers that bloom profusely throughout the warm months. It typically grows 2 to 4 meters tall, with finely divided, feathery foliage that adds a soft texture to gardens and landscapes. The plant thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, showing excellent heat and drought tolerance once established. Its long flowering season, delicate appearance, and easy maintenance make it a favorite choice for tropical and subtropical gardens.
Germination Guide
🌍 Mexico and Central America (Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua)
Moderate
Caesalpinia pulcherrima var. white is an ornamental shrub of the Fabaceae family native to Mexico and Central America, characterized by elegant white flowers and fern-like foliage. Seeds have a hard, impermeable coat requiring scarification and soaking before sowing. While relatively easy to propagate from seed, germination can be variable and is sensitive to seed storage conditions.
Germination
Germination time
Expect germination in
3 – 56 days
Temperature
Min 21°C
Ideal 29°C
Max 27°C
Substrate moisture
💧 Medium
Sowing depth
Lightly covered
Seed Pre-treatment
-
💧
Soaking — 24 hours
After scarification, soak seeds in room temperature water for 24 hours to soften the seed coat. Seeds will swell when soaked and should be sown immediately after soaking.
-
🔨
Mechanical scarification
Seeds have a hard impermeable seed coat. Scarify mechanically by chipping with a chisel, knife or rasp. Large seeds can be chipped; smaller seeds may be scraped on sandpaper, clipped with nail clippers or pricked with a needle. Scarify on the side away from the hilum.
-
📋
Additional notes
Soaking scarified seeds in saltpetre solution (1 teaspoon to 1 litre of water) may improve germination. Newly harvested seeds have no dormancy; however, stored seeds may develop secondary dormancy after 6 months.
Substrate & Container
Recommended substrate
Well-draining seed starting mix such as peat moss and perlite blend, or free-draining water retentive seed sowing mix
Recommended container
Seed tray or small pots with expanded polystyrene trays
Growing Tips
Select seeds from the proximal/median position within fruit pods for best germination rates. Soak water regularly if using the saltpetre pre-treatment method. Maintain consistent moisture during germination but avoid waterlogging. Newly harvested seeds germinate better than stored seeds; germination can decline significantly after 6 months of storage. Place seeds in warm conditions at 29°C (85°F) for optimal results. Light is not required for germination (neutral photoblastic). Germination is typically erratic even under ideal conditions.
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.