Cassia excelsa
KASS-ee-uh ex-SELL-suh
Cassia carnival

Species characteristics:

Form -Semievergreen. Rounded to spreading dense medium-sized tree. Fast growing to 25 -30' with an equal spread.

Trunk -Smooth and green when young, gray, and lightly marked with vertical streaks in maturity.

Foliage -Alternate, paripinnately compound leaves are 8 -12" long. Ten to twenty pairs of dark green oblong leaflets are each Y2 -I" long and less then 1/2" wide with a tiny spine at the indented tip.

Flowers/fruit -Bright yellow, cup-shaped flowers about %" wide are borne above the leaves in 12 -16" long, showy flower clusters in late summer and early fall. Seeds are borne in four-sided, fleshy green pods, 8- 10" long and Y2" thick.

No significant pest problems are known at this time.

Site suitability:

Sunset zones -12, 13, 19- 24.

Clearances -Suitable for 5' minimum parkways, medians or cutouts. Suitable under utility lines for many years due to slow growth and spreading habit.

Good for accent planting.

Culture considerations: Best in well-drained soil. Moderately drought tolerant. Needs moisture during growth period.

Comments, notes:
Not readily available at wholesale nurseries but merits attention.