Gulmohar Tree (Delonix regia): Where It Grows in India and How to Plant It

Delonix regia

Gulmohar (Delonix regia), the flame tree or royal poinciana in English, is a summer-flowering avenue tree from Madagascar. What it looks like, where it grows in India, when it flowers, how and when to plant it, care for the first three years, and whether it is harmful.

Published on October 22, 2026
GreenEye Team

Planting methods

SaplingPrimary method

Spacing: Roughly 8-10 m between avenue trees (rule of thumb); about 8-10 m from buildings and services is only a rough starting point, not a safe distance · Depth: Pit about 60 cm each way (rule of thumb); plant at nursery soil level without burying the stem

Dig a pit
Mix compost into the dug-out soil
Set the plant at its nursery soil level
Firm the soil and shape a watering basin
Water it well

Seed

Spacing: Unshaded nursery beds, or 4-5 seeds per polybag (ICFRE) · Depth: Pretreat the hard seed (nick or soak; practical guidance); sow September-October or as late as April (ICFRE)

Pick fresh, healthy seed and prepare it
Sow at a shallow, even depth
Cover lightly and keep the soil moist
Transplant the seedling once it is sturdy

Cutting

Spacing: As sapling (rule of thumb) · Depth: ICFRE says it can be propagated by cuttings; no method details found

Take a healthy cutting
Plant it in a moist rooting mix
Keep it moist until roots form
Transplant the rooted cutting

Source: ICFRE (2019). A Manual: Modern Nursery Techniques, species 25: Delonix regia (Boj) Rafin, p. 70

This article was prepared with AI assistance and checked by the GreenEye team against the sources shown in each section.

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