GOLDEN SHOWER 
* GOLDEN SHOWER (Cassia fistula). 
Most famous of all the “shower” trees be- 
cause of its magnificent display in June 
or July of drooping clusters of yellow blos- 
soms in greatest profusion, this small 
Indian tree is cultivated all over Florida 
and richly deserves its popularity. As it 
is dormant in winter, it has sustained 
temperatures to 20° without damage. 
Whole avenues in Honolulu are lined with 
“shower” trees and Florida can _ utilize 
their beauty too. 
* PANAMA SHOWER (C. reticulata). 
“A shrub or small tree,” writes Standley, 
“an exceptionally showy plant when cov- 
ered with the large flowers. These have 
bright yellow petals and orange sepals 
and bracts. The leaflets fold together 
in the evening, and remain so until sun- 
rise. . 
* KENYA SHOWER (C. goratensis). 
This 30-foot tree is a winter cynosure in 
my garden, being covered from January 
to March with huge handsome clusters of 
sulphur yellow flowers against the dark 
green foliage. Unfortunately, it seldom 
sets seed. 
*SPICEBUSH SHOWER (C. austra- 
lis). Audas says: “This is another of our 
native plants deserving cultivation, for 
one could not wish for a prettier sight 
than is presented by the luxuriance of its 
(buttercup-like) golden flowers when in 
full bloom.” This Cassia requires a moistier 
situation than most others, says Lord. The 
narrow, deep green leaves resemble Vir- 
gilia. 
ll 
* PINK SHOWER (C. grandis). Stand- 
ley says: “A large tree, sometimes 30 
meters high or more, the bark chocolate- 
brown, scaly; flowers pink or white, race- 
mose, usually appearing when the tree is 
leafless or nearly so, the racemes 10-20 
cm. long. (See 1947 catalog). 
SIAMESE SHOWER (C. siamea). Best 
of the Cassia trees for shade and fastest 
growing, this medium-sized evergreen 
with a dense crown grows anywhere. Its 
pyramids of yellow blossoms continue 
through the fall months, never very 
showy, but one of the loveliest trees in my 
garden. 
Credi 
“Album Floristico’”’ 
"BRAZIL PINK SHOWER 
* BRAZIL PINK-SHOWER. (C. 
lep- 
tophylla). This highly ornamental small 
tree from southern Brazil bears bright 
pink flowers on its long and flexuous 
branches and is recommended in “Album 
Floristico” to create scenic beauty in 
gardens and parks. Hoehne calls it “a 
lovely tree with small leaves and very 
ornamental flowers”. Too much shade 
may modify the tree’s graceful half-weep- 
ing form. It blooms December-January 
in Rio; has not yet bloomed in Florida. 
The pods are woody, and square when 
cut crosswise. 
*NICARAGUA SHOWER (C._nica- 
raguensis). Standley says this is “shrub or 
small tree of 2-5 meters; flowers large, 
racemose, many-flowered; petals yellow 
or sulphur-yellow, 2-2.5 cm. long, with 
conspicuous, dark, closely reticulate ve- 
nation. The shrub is a showy and hand- 
some one, well worthy of cultivation.” 
