Paraserianthes lophantha

Cultivation Details

A plant of the subtropics and tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 300 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 18 - 26°c, but can tolerate 10 - 32°c^[1]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -2°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at 0°c^[1]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 700 - 1,000mm, but tolerates 550 - 1,150mm^[1]. Grows best in a sunny position^[1]. Succeeds in a wide range of soils, preferably well-drained, though it can tolerate wetter conditions^[1]. Prefers a pH in the range 7 - 7.5, tolerating 6.5 - 8^[1]. Established plants are moderately drought tolerant^[1]. The tree is a potential weed on moist, fertile valley sites^[1]. A fast-growing tree^[1]. The trees fruit at a young age of 5 - 6 years, but then gradually decay because of infection by the rust fungus Uromycladium tepperianum^[2]. The tree is usually killed by forest fires^[1]. However, the seeds, which have a hard, thick seed-coat, germinate freely after the influence of fire. This often results in single-dominant groves after the fire^[2]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby^[3].