Parkia pendula
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Parkia pendula

Tier 2 Difficulty: easy Water: low Light: full_sun
Temperature
20–37 °C
Soil pH
6–7
Hardiness
Zone 10–12
Click count
4
Observations
17

Description

Source: leafsnap

Parkia pendula is a species of neotropical evergreen tree found throughout Central and South America. It is part of the Parkia genus, a group of flowering plants that are part of the legume family, Fabaceae.

Care Guide

💧 Water
☀️ Light Full sun

Parkia pendula is native to open habitats like sunny meadows and forest margins that provide abundant light. It does best in Full Sun but can also tolerate Partial Sun, adjusting well to different sunlight levels.

Ideal: Full sun
🌡️ Temperature 20–37.8°C

Parkia pendula comes from tropical areas, where the climate is generally warm and humid. Consequently, it is adapted to high temperatures and moisture. It does not tolerate abrupt temperature shifts and prefers a steady thermal environment, so avoiding temperature fluctuations indoors is important. It typically cannot withstand cold and needs warmer conditions 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 6-7
Soil pH: 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer

Fertilizing is essential for caring for Parkia pendula. Consistent feeding throughout the growing season maintains energy for its showy foliage and promotes general growth. If fertilization is overlooked, leaves can become unhealthy, the plant's ornamental value can decline, and growth may be stunted or weak and susceptible to breaking.

🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning

Parkia pendula is characterized by its large, hanging seed pods and compound leaves. It features a unique vertical growth pattern and a branched canopy. To maintain its health, prune the tree in early spring to remove dead or overcrowded branches. Additionally, perform light thinning to improve air circulation and light penetration. With proper care, the tree will enjoy healthy growth throughout the season.

🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity

Characteristics

Plant Type
Tree
Life Cycle
Perennial
Genus
Parkia
Family
Fabaceae
Hardiness Zone
10-12
Mature Height
20.12 m to 29.87 m
Mature Spread
14.94 m to 24.99 m
Leaf Color
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Type
Evergreen
Flower Color
Red, Pink
Flower Size
2.03 cm to 3.05 cm
Bloom Time
Late winter, Early spring, Mid spring
Planting Time
Summer, Autumn
Harvest Time
Late spring, Early summer, Mid summer
Native Area
Colombia, Honduras, Bolivia, Venezuela, Peru, Guyana, Brazil, Nicaragua, Costa Rica

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