Royal Poinciana: A Tropical Beauty That Won't Survive Georgia Winters

Royal Poinciana: A Tropical Beauty That Won't Survive Georgia Winters

Royal poinciana (Delonix regia) dazzles with orange blooms in Puerto Rico, but it's a legume (related to mimosa and kudzu) that freezes to death in Georgia winters. Even in a pot, it demands a greenhouse or very bright indoor space to survive.

Indoor Challenges

• Needs intense light to bloom.
• Pinching back to control size removes flower buds.
• Without a greenhouse, flowering is unlikely.

Admire it in tropical climates, but don't invest in one for a Georgia garden unless you have a conservatory.