Wonders of the Caribbean: St.Lucian Yellow Poui Tree
“It’s hard to miss the poui tree with its brilliant yellow flowers as it appears in full bloom, by magic one day. Then a few days later, it flutters silently, carpeting the ground, in ones or twos, like flakes of snow.”
The Yellow Poui, one of St. Lucia’s most spectacular trees, originated in Central America and is now found in several Caribbean islands. It grows to a height of seventy or eighty feet and because of its dense resinous wood, it is used extensively in building and construction; it is very resistant to termites. Each trumpet-shaped flower leaf is palmately compound and comprises five to seven leaflets. The leaves shed early in dry season (January and February) and new foliage is not produced for three or four months. Flowering takes place in April around Easter time and the blossoms lasts only for a few days. It is a wonder to step outside at Greenwood Terrace Garden and see this marvel over the next few days.
Come out quickly to see these Spots of Gold as they brighten the garden areas on the island. The trees won’t flower again until the next dry season.