The Tipu Tree or Pride of Bolivia is a flowering tree in the bean family that has bright yellow flowers and curious, maple wing like fruits. It is a semi-deciduous tropical tree from South America that has a crooked or leaning trunk and a broad, spreading canopy. The trunk has rough, fissured bark. It is a medium-sized tree. It has a very fast growth rate. The high quality timber that it produces is known as rosewood. It is drought tolerant and it has a very fast rate of growth. It is widely used as a street, shade and flowering tree in subtropical and tropical regions. Hardy in zones 9-12.
Growing Instructions for the Tipu Tree
- Soak the seeds in water for several hours. 2. Put a mixture of potting soil and sand or perlite into a pot with drainage holes in the base. The soil should be moist and well-drained. 3. Sow the seeds on the soil. 4. Cover the seeds with a layer of soil that is ½ of an inch thick. 5. Water the seeds. Keep the soil moist but not wet. 6. When the plants are a few inches tall, they can be transplanted.