Cassia × nealiae (Rainbow Shower Tree)

Developed in Hawaii, USA, this ornamental tree is a hybrid of Cassia fistula and Cassia javanica in the legume family. It can reach about 33 feet tall and briefly sheds its leaves before flowering. Each compound leaf has several pairs of oval leaflets. Long hanging flower clusters combine yellow, cream, pink, orange, or red tones, with colors varying among cultivars. Flowering lasts longer than in its parent species, and the tree produces little to no fruit. Grafting preserves the selected flower colors. Widely grown for shade and street planting in the tropics, it is Honolulu’s official city tree. Photographed in Florida.