Common Name: brownea
Type: Broadleaf evergreen
Family: Fabaceae
Native Range: Guyana, Venezuela
Zone: 10 to 12
Height: 15.00 to 25.00 feet
Spread: 12.00 to 15.00 feet
Bloom Time: Seasonal bloomer
Bloom Description: Red
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Low
Suggested Use: Annual, Flowering Tree
Flower: Showy
Leaf: Colorful, Evergreen
Attracts: Hummingbirds, Butterflies
Culture
Best grown in evenly moist, rich, humusy soils in full sun to part shade. Hardy in frost free, tropical Zones 12 and above.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Brownea coccinea subsp. capitella, commonly known as rose of Venezuela or scarlet flame bean, is a small evergreen tree native to wooded valleys and other low elevation areas of Venezuela, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and northern Brazil. Mature specimens will reach up to 25' tall with a spreading canopy up to 35' wide. May only reach 15' tall in cultivation. The compound leaves emerge light pink to brown in color and appear limp and drooping. As the foliage matures it becomes green and turgid. Terminal clusters of 25-30 bright red, tubular flowers bloom seasonally. The flowers can reach 2-3" long and are attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies. Narrow, brown seed pods form after the flowers and can reach up to 9.5" long.
Genus name honors Irish physician Patrick Browne (1720-1790).
The specific epithet coccinea means "red", in reference to the color of the flowers. The infraspecific epithet capitella means "having a small head" or "small-headed", in reference to the size of the inflorescence compared to other related taxa.
Problems
No major pest or disease problems have been reported.
Uses
Suitable for use as a flowering specimen tree in tropical gardens. Can also be grown in a large greenhouse.