Brownea ariza, Hermesias ariza
Scarlet Flame BeanFamily: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae
Origin: South America
This tropical American native occurs in Colombia and Venezuela, though it is widely grown in other tropical regions worldwide. A true tropical, it requires frost-free environment with hight air humidity. Assuming you can provide the tropical conditions, the species grows into a nice medium size tree 20-25 ft (smaller in containers), with dense umbrella-like canopy, spreading 15-20 ft wide.
Young leaves a pale green to pinkish, almost white, sometimes with light variegation, and hangs down like a large handkerchief (like in all related species (browneas, amherstia, maniltoa, etc.).
Flowering occurs on 3-4th year from seed, at the base of the branches. The flower lasts a few days, however the view is unforgettable.
Related species: Brownea grandiceps, Brownea capitella.
Similar plants:
- Brownea angustifolia (Scarlet Flame Bean)
- Brownea coccinea subsp. capitella, Brownea capitella (Rose of Venezuela, Scarlet Flame Bean)
- Brownea crawfordii (Rose of Venezuela)
- Brownea grandiceps (Rose of Venezuela, Scarlet Flame Bean)
- Brownea macrophylla (Panama Flame Tree, Rose of Venezuela )
- Brownea sp. (Scarlet Flame Bean)
