Amaltas (Golden Shower)
Cassia fistula
📖 About this plant
Amaltas (Cassia fistula), also known as the Golden Shower Tree, Indian Laburnum, or Pudding Pipe Tree, is one of the most spectacular flowering trees of the Indian subcontinent — when in bloom from April to June, the tree is covered in long (30-60 cm) pendulous clusters of brilliant yellow flowers that hang like golden chandeliers from the leafless branches, creating one of the most stunning floral displays in the plant kingdom. Amaltas is the state flower of Kerala and is deeply embedded in Indian culture — it is mentioned in the Ramayana, used in religious ceremonies, and its bloom marks the arrival of summer across India. The tree is also the national tree of Thailand and the state flower of Kerala. Beyond ornamental value, Amaltas has significant medicinal uses in Ayurveda — the fruit pulp is one of the most important laxatives in traditional medicine (used in the famous “Aragvadha” formulation) and is also used to treat fever, skin diseases, and heart conditions. Modern research has confirmed antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and laxative properties. The wood is used for furniture and construction, the bark for tanning, and the flowers for religious offerings. The tree is highly adaptable — it thrives in dry, deciduous forests across India and tolerates drought, poor soils, and brief frost. It is widely planted as an avenue tree and ornamental in Indian cities, where its spectacular bloom provides weeks of golden colour when most other trees have finished flowering. The tree is deciduous — leaves drop in late winter, followed by spectacular bloom in April-June, then new leaves appear.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
Full sun
Weekly (drought-tolerant once established)
Moderate (30-70%)
15-38°C
Well-draining loamy soil; tolerates poor and alkaline soils. pH 6.0-8.0
Balanced NPK or compost 2-3 times per year
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia
- 📏 Max height
- 8-15 m (typically 8-12 m in cultivation)
- 📐 Spread
- 4-8 m
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- April to June (late spring to early summer in India)
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Brilliant yellow flowers in long (30-60 cm) pendulous racemes
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Bright green, pinnate leaves 30-40 cm long with 4-8 pairs of leaflets; deciduous
- ⏳ Lifespan
- 50-80 years
- 📈 Growth rate
- Moderate to fast — 60-100 cm per year
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Mildly toxic — fruit pulp is a strong laxative; seeds and unripe fruit are toxic. Use medicinally only under guidance.
- 🌱 Propagation
- Seeds (need scarification; germinate in 2-4 weeks), cuttings
🛡️ Health & Safety
Mildly toxic — fruit pulp is a strong laxative; seeds and unripe fruit are toxic. Use medicinally only under guidance.
Common issues
- Leaf-eating caterpillars, leaf spot diseases, powdery mildew, root rot from poor drainage, aphids on new growth, scale insects; overall relatively pest-resistant
💡 Care tips
- Plant in full sun with 6-8 m spacing — Amaltas becomes a medium to large tree. The tree is drought-tolerant once established but produces the best floral display with regular watering during the growing season. Apply compost or balanced fertilizer 2-3 times per year. Prune young trees to develop a strong central leader; mature trees need only light pruning to remove dead wood and shape. The tree is deciduous — do not worry when leaves drop in winter, this is normal. The spectacular bloom appears on leafless branches in April-June, followed by new leaves and then long (30-60 cm) dark brown woody pods that hang on the tree for months. Trees start flowering in 5-7 years from seed. Plant Amaltas as a specimen tree where the spectacular bloom can be admired, or as an avenue tree with 6-8 m spacing. The tree is suitable for Indian dry-deciduous regions and tolerates drought. Avoid planting near foundations or pavements — the tree develops a substantial root system. Harvest pods when fully brown and dry — the pulp inside is a powerful laxative and should be used only under Ayurvedic guidance.