Caesalpinia ferrea

Caesalpinia ferrea Details

Caesalpinia ferrea, commonly known as the Leopard Tree, Brazilian Ironwood or Jucá, is a small and elegant tree grown for its foliage and flowers. It gets its name from the spotted patterns on the trunk which are like a leopards skin. The foliage is dark green and held on gently arching branches. It becomes adorned with masses of yellow flowers in summer which are great for attracting birds. It typically grows to 12 m tall and 5 m wide with a broad and somewhat open growth habit. This evergreen grows best in full sun on a well-drained site. It will tolerate dry periods and light frost only once established. Caesalpinia ferrea is commonly used in avenue plantings or grown as specimen in a park.