Caesalpinia violacea
Caesalpinia violacea
Safety & Hazards
None known
Cultivation Details
Caesalpinia violacea is found in the tropical regions of central America, usually at elevations below 300 metres. It grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall is within the range 750 - 1,800mm and the mean annual temperature can range from 20 - 30°c[1]. Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil. Grows best in a light to medium-textured soil and is tolerant of infertile soils[1]. Caesalpinia violacea is a fast-growing tree with the capability to grow and establish in poor clay, stony and sandy soils. Plants have escaped from cultivation and, in Cuba, the species is listed as invasive and as one of the more noxious invasive plants. It is invading natural habitats where it is out-competing native species[1].
Propagation
Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have ripened and dried the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[PFAF]. Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2026-02-19. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Caesalpinia+violacea>
Pollinators
Data unavailable
References
- [1]Invasive Species Compendium — http://www.cabi.org ↩︎An immense resource - in depth information on over 900 species of invasive plants (it also has information on animals, fungi etc).
- [2]Flora of Guatemala — Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark · 1946 - 1976 · http://www.archive.org/ ↩︎A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/
- [3]The Useful and Ornamental Plants of Trinidad and Tobago. — Williams. R. O. & Williams. R. O. Jnr. · Self Published in Trinidad and Tobago. · 1951 ↩︎Terse details of a wide range of plants both native and introduced to Trinidad and Tobago. Gives a brief description of the plant and some of its local uses.
- [4]Flowering Plants of Jamaica — Adams. C.D. · University of the West Indies; Jamaica. · 1972 ↩︎A terse treatment of the flowering plants of Jamaica, with a botanical description of each plant, notes on habitat etc.
- [PFAF]Plants for a Future — pfaf.org ↩︎