{"slug":"cassia-fistula","scientific_name":"Cassia fistula","common_names":["Amaltas","Indian laburnum","Golden shower tree","Golden rain tree","Kanikkonna","Ratchaphruek"],"family":"Fabaceae","type":"broadleaf_deciduous","mature_height_m":10,"mature_spread_m":8,"growth_rate":"medium","lifespan_years":60,"hardiness_zones":[10,12],"sun":"full","water":"low","soil":"Any reasonably drained soil of pH 5.5-8.7; drought resistant once established","native_range":"Native to India and Sri Lanka (WCVP) and, per other sources, the wider subcontinent and South-East Asia; planted throughout the tropics.","description":"A medium-sized deciduous tree of about 10 m that drops its leaves in the hot season and then hangs itself with 30 to 60 cm chains of golden flowers, followed by long black pods. It is the state flower of Kerala and the national flower of Thailand and is a favourite street and garden tree across India and South-East Asia. The pulp is a traditional laxative and the seeds are emetic, so keep pods from children.","care":"Plant in full sun at the start of the rains; water the first dry season only. Tolerates moderate shade and drought but not frost. Prune after flowering to shape; it coppices and suckers freely. Scale insects and various fungi attack it. Pods and flower litter need sweeping on pavements.","benefits":["flowers","pollinators","drought_tolerant","small_space","shade"],"uses":["street_tree","small_yard","parks","yard_shade"],"cautions":["toxic_parts","heavy_litter","messy_fruit"],"image_url":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Golden_shower_tree.jpg","image_credit":"Wikimedia Commons, file Golden_shower_tree.jpg (see file page for author and licence)","sources":["https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/speciesprofile.php?Spid=1780","https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Cassia_fistula.PDF","https://www.gbif.org/species/5357108","https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=280435"],"data_note":null,"updated_at":"2026-11-08T01:00:46.205Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/cassia-fistula","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/cassia-fistula.md","regions":[{"country":"IN","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":"State flower of Kerala; planted in every state","source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/5357108"},{"country":"LK","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/5357108"},{"country":"KE","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"Introduced per WCVP","source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/5357108"},{"country":"MM","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"Introduced per WCVP","source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/5357108"},{"country":"MX","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"Introduced per WCVP","source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/5357108"},{"country":"TH","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"National flower of Thailand; WCVP records it as introduced in Indochina","source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/5357108"},{"country":"US","region":"FL","locality":null,"status":"adapted","note":"Introduced per WCVP; not on FISC list","source_url":"https://www.floridainvasives.org/plant-list/2025-invasive-plant-species/"}],"license":"CC-BY-4.0"}