Scientific Name
Barringtonia neocaledonica Vieill.
Synonym(s)
Doxomma neocaledonicum, Michelia neocaledonica, Stravadium neocaledonicum
Scientific Classification
Family: Lecythidaceae
Genus: Barringtonia
Flower
Color: Pinkish-white
Bloom Time: Flowering occurs in the late dry season
Description
Barringtonia neocaledonica is a beautiful small tree with fissured grey bark and bright green leaves. It grows up to 33 feet (10 m) tall. Leaves are up to 12 inches (30 cm) long and up to 5 inches (12.5 cm) wide. The foliage will turn red over winter, especially in colder zones. The plant produces long racemes of fluffy pinkish-white flowers followed by a woody fruit.
Hardiness
USDA hardiness zone 10a to 11b: from 30 °F (−1.1 °C) to 50 °F (+10 °C).
How to Grow and Care
This plant grows naturally in wet tropical, moist tropical and wet subtropical climatic zones, generally in areas with annual low temperatures between 68 to 77 °F (20 to 25 °C), high yearly temperatures between 81 to 93 °F (27 to 34 °C), annual rainfall between 40 to 160 inches (1000 to 4000 mm) and a dry season of 6 months or less.
It prefers a position in full sun or light shade and grows best in fertile, humid, well-drained soil but tolerates shallow, saline, and infertile soils. An established plant is pretty drought tolerant and tolerant of saline conditions and salt-laden winds. It thrives in the wild, where its roots dabble in the brackish waters of lagoons, inlets, estuaries, and seasonally flooded coastal regions.
It is usually propagated by seeds.
Origin
This species is native to New Caledonia.
Links
- Back to genus Barringtonia
- Plantpedia: Browse flowering plants by Scientific Name, Common Name, Genus, Family, USDA Hardiness Zone, or Origin
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