Description
Divi-divi is a shrub or a small tree with a rounded, spreading crown; it usually grows up to 10 metres tall, but can be much taller.
Caesalpinia coriaria is a leguminous tree or large shrub native. Leaves are bipinnate, with 5-10 pairs of pinnae, each pinna with 15-25 pairs of leaflets; the individual leaflets are 7 mm long and 2 mm broad. The fruit is a twisted pod 5 cm (2.0 in) long.
Plant Specifications
| Common Name | Common names include Divi-divi, Cascalote, Guaracabuya, Guatapana, Nacascol and Watapana(Aruba). |
| Maximum Reachable Height | C. coriaria rarely reaches its maximum height of 9 m (30 ft) because its growth is contorted by the trade winds that batter the exposed coastal sites where it often grows. |
| Flower Colour | Orange |
| Bloom Time | Seasonal bloomer |
| Difficulty Level | easy to grow |
Planting and care
Diligently water your plants. Soak the entire root zone at least twice a week in dry summer weather. Avoid frequent shallow sprinklings, which wont reach the deeper roots and may encourage fungus. Plants do best with 90 inches of rain per year, so unless you live in a rain forest, water regularly.
Caesalpinia coriaria care
Plants do not thrive in Zones 9 to 10 without a period of refrigeration; they need a cold, dormant period. Select a site with soil that drains well. How can you tell? After a good rain, find a spot that is the first to dry out. Water trapped beneath the scales may rot the bulb, so a well-drained site is essential.
| Sunlight | full sun |
| Watering | Watering might be necessary in the dry season for the first two yea |
| Soil | Succeeds in any moderately fertile, well-drained soil. It grows on rich clay soils and poor sandy soils. Succeeds with a pH in the range 4.5 - 8.7. It requires a position in full sun. |
| Temperature | 15 to 28C |
| Fertilizer | apply any organic fertilizer |
Caesalpinia coriaria special feature
Pollinators:Bees
Cultivation Status:Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild
Succeeds with a pH in the range 4.5 - 8.7
Caesalpinia coriaria uses
Ornamental Use:
- It is grown as an ornamental in many parts of the tropics and is sometimes still cultivated for its tannins
Medicinal Use:
- The astringent pods are used as an antiperiodics
- A decoction of the pods is used in the treatment of haemorrhoids, and in an infusion for dressing sores
- The bark or pods are employed dressing woundsThe roots are febrifuge
- They are used in the treatment of abscesses and chronic woundsThe seeds contain 5 - 9% of a fixed oil, about half of which consists of cyclopropenoid fatty acids, which have carcinogenic properties
Culinary Use:
- Is edible no Culinary uses Nutritional value Edible parts Description of edible parts Flavor / texture