The Tower Tree (Schizolobium parahyba) is now a common candidate for landscaping in Singapore. Once considered an exotic plant, we can now see it everywhere, planted around condominium showflats, in public and private gardens. Due to its umbrella-like canopy with pinnate leaves, a small plant at a height of just 1m makes a good substitute for the tree fern. It is also known as the Brazilian Fern Tree.
A member of the bean family, Fabaceae, its common name is descriptive of its growth habit. The Tower Tree is a plant from Tropical America and it can grow up to a towering height of more than 5 storeys! Plants are usually sold in local nurseries and planted are single trunked. Those that are branched are increasingly becoming popular and sought-after due to their unconventional look.
I stopped short of growing this tree in my community garden for an obvious reason – the tree is so tall and I felt it will become a lightning hazard. I don’t want anyone or the tree to be hurt!
Last Saturday, when I was at HortPark for its opening, CEO NParks, Mr Ng Lang, pointed to me a Tower Tree that was flowering. It was located at the visitor’s carpark and I must say this is my first time that I witnessed the flowering of this ornamental tree. I grabbed the opportunity to take the picture of this rare occurrence.
