|
Cassia leptophylla (Gold Medallion Tree) - A broad semi-evergreen tree to 20 to 25 feet tall that has reddish-brown bark with low branches that are somewhat pendulous towards the tips with 1-foot-long compound leaves of 9 to 20 pairs of opposite 1-2 inch long linear leaflets that are deep glossy green on their upper surface and dull green below. In early to mid-summer appear the terminal clusters of 2- to 3-inch-wide deep yellow flowers, with scattered flowering occurring later. The flowers are followed by 1- to 2-foot-long bean-like pods that are square in cross section.
Plant in full sun in a fairly well-drained soil and give occasional to little irrigation. Hardy to about 25 degrees F and tolerant to short duration freezes a bit lower. This is the most common of the Cassias in southern California whose popularity can be attributed to its lush foliage and amazing large flower clusters that nearly smoother the tree. It requires very little care other than occasional pruning to maintain shape but can be a little fussy in heavy soils especially if over irrigated but in general it has been a very reliable tree in Southern California landscapes.
Cassia leptophylla is a forest tree from southeastern Brazil. Though many of the plants previously known as Cassia are now in the genus Senna, this species is still in the genus Cassia - for a list of those plants now longer in the genus Cassia that that we have grown, see our listing of Senna. The name Cassia is from the ancient Greek 'Kassia', a name for the biblical kassian plants that provided senna leaves and pods for medicinal use. The specific epithet is from the Greek words 'leptos' meaning "thin", "slender", "delicate" or "narrow" and 'phyllon' meaning "leaf" in reference to the narrow leaflets of this species.
This tree was first planted in the Los Angeles County Arboretum in 1958 and has become increasingly popular in southern California over time. There are beautiful specimens around Santa Barbara including one along San Marcos Road as one approached our nursey location that typically blooms in July and August but some years it a bit earlier. We grew this outstanding tree since the first years of the nursery in 1979 and sold it until we closed our doors in 2025.
Information displayed on this page about Cassia leptophylla is based on our research conducted about this plant in our nursery library as well as from information provided by reliable online resources. We also include our own observations made about it as it has grown in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers in our nursery field. We will also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.
|
