Cassia sp. (Rainbow Shower)

The group of Cassia hybrids, often collectively referred to in botanical and horticultural literature as Cassia hybrids or Cassia x hybrid group, includes ornamental crosses such as Cassia x nealiae, Cassia fistula x javanica, Cassia fistula x grandis, and Cassia javanica x grandis. These hybrids freely intercross, and their exact parentage can be difficult to determine without genetic testing. In horticulture, they are treated as one group because they share the same value - brightly flowering tropical and subtropical trees cultivated for landscaping and street planting.

Cassia hybrids combine the most attractive features of their parent species, producing abundant clusters of colorful blooms that range from golden yellow and orange to soft pink and rose. When several hybrids are planted together, their overlapping flowering periods create a multicolored display that gives rise to the name 'Rainbow Shower Trees'. The trees are fast-growing and semi-deciduous, forming wide, graceful crowns with pinnate leaves that provide light shade.

They thrive in full sun and well-drained soil, flowering mainly in late spring and summer when the branches are covered in cascading sprays that attract bees and butterflies. These hybrids perform best in USDA Zones 10-11 and require protection from frost. Ideal for tropical and subtropical landscapes, avenues, and large gardens, Cassia hybrids bring brilliant seasonal color and a distinctly tropical character to any setting.