Botanical Name: Caesalpinia spinosa
Common Name: Tara
Type of Plant: dicot: tree
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape Upright to sprawling shrubby tree covered with short, stout spines on trunk, branches and leaves; foliage is shiny dark green with reddish fruit
Height 15 to 20'
Spread to 20'
Growth Rate moderate
 
Environment:
Exposure outdoors full sun preferred
Soil tolerant of most soils
Hardiness Some frost – Zones 12-16, 18-24
 
Morphology:
Leaves bipinnately compound, alternate on stem, to 12" long with 2-3 pairs of pinnae up to 4" long; leaflets oval to elliptical, dark green and shiny
Flowers small yellow and red flowers in 6" to 8" long spikes toward the ends of branches in May or June
Fruit reddish-tinged pods to 4", 3/4" wide, which curl up and drop
 
Propagation:
seed
 
Usage:
rustic tree used for reddish fruit and yellow flowers, sometimes used as a street tree or roadside tree; valued as a curiosity and for its durability and hardiness
 
Landscape Care:
Watering regular watering for first year; drought tolerant after established
Fertilizing slow-release at planting
Pruning head up and select canopy branches carefully for tree form
Pests/Diseases none major
Special Conditions/Other
 
Origin: Western South America
Family: Fabaceae

Notes:
 
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