Dillenia alata
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Dillenia alata

Golden guinea tree · Red beech

Tier 2 Difficulty: easy Water: low Light: full_sun
Temperature
20–37 °C
Soil pH
5–7
Hardiness
Zone 10–12
Click count
6
Observations
5

Description

Source: wikipedia (CC BY-SA)

Dillenia alata, commonly known as red beech, golden guinea flower or golden guinea tree, is a tree in the Dilleniaceae family, found in New Guinea, and the Northern Territory and Queensland in Australia. It has found some popularity as an ornamental for tropical parks and large gardens due to its colourful flowers and fruit.

Care Guide

💧 Water

The golden guinea tree is well-suited to dry conditions and can endure droughts. It thrives with moderate moisture and benefits from being watered every two weeks. Maintaining consistent soil moisture is particularly important for its active growth, especially in warmer climates.

☀️ Light Full sun

The Golden guinea tree is native to open habitats, like sunny meadows and forest edges, which offer abundant light. It thrives in Full Sun but will also tolerate Partial Sun, adapting well to different sunlight conditions.

Ideal: Full sun
🌡️ Temperature 20–37.8°C

The golden guinea tree comes from tropical areas, where the climate is generally warm and humid. Consequently, it is well adapted to high temperatures and humidity. It is sensitive to sudden temperature changes and prefers a stable thermal environment, so it is important to prevent temperature fluctuations indoors. It typically cannot tolerate cold and needs higher temperatures to grow. If the ambient temperature falls too low, the plant may stop growing or even die.

Ideal temperature: 20–37.8°C
💨 Humidity
Humidity:
🪴 Soil 5-7
Soil pH: 5-7
🌱 Fertilizer

The best time to fertilize a Golden guinea tree is in early spring when it comes out of dormancy. This supports overall growth and the development of flowers. Fertilization improves the foliage, stems, and branches, and encourages large, vibrant, long-lasting blooms. It helps transfer nutrients from the roots to the flowers and increases the plant’s health and resistance to disease.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning

The golden guinea tree is known for its vibrant yellow flowers and broad, glossy leaves. To maintain its health and appearance, prune the tree from early to late winter by removing any dead branches to improve air circulation. Light trimming helps maintain a compact shape, enhances flowering, and prevents structural problems.

🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Tree
Life Cycle
Perennial
Genus
Dillenia
Family
Dilleniaceae
Hardiness Zone
10-12
Mature Height
11.89 m
Mature Spread
6.1 m
Leaf Color
Dark Green
Leaf Type
Evergreen
Flower Color
Yellow
Flower Size
6.35 cm to 8.89 cm
Bloom Time
Late spring, Summer
Planting Time
Spring
Harvest Time
Late summer, Fall

Tags (4)

Common Names (2)

en Golden guinea tree
en Red beech