Saraca

This plant can be grown outdoors in distinctly warm humid climates, and prefer a moist, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. It can also be grown within greenhouses. The trees themselves are grown for their clustered, upturned flowers in yellow, orange or red. The tree's flowers lack petals, having brightly colored sepals, and have stamens projecting up to eight inches long. The leaves are pinnate, with paired leaflets. Typically, these trees are accustomed to the shade of other trees. Most species of Saraca are associated with particular bodies of water. The species Saraca asoca is believed to be the tree under which Buddha was born. Red saraca is the provincial tree of Yala province, Thailand.

Species

12 species are accepted:

• Saraca asoca (Roxb.) W.J.de Wilde – ashoka tree
• Saraca celebica W.J.de Wilde
• Saraca declinata (Jack) Miq.
• Saraca dives Pierre
• Saraca griffithiana Prain
• Saraca hullettii Prain
• Saraca indica L.
• Saraca monodelpha W.J.de Wilde
• Saraca schmidiana J.E.Vidal
• Saraca thailandica Pongam., Panyadee & Inta
• Saraca thaipingensis Cantley ex Prain
• Saraca tubiflora W.J.de Wilde