Amazing!  Highly Ornamental and Lucky!

The Malabar Chestnut is one of those very special trees.  Also named the Provision tree by the U.N, this tree can withstand the often harsh conditions in developing countries.  Native to an area from Southern Mexico to Guyana and northern Brazil, this tree is well suited to tropical and subtropical regions as well as mild inland and coastal areas. Although native to naturally wet areas, it is extremely adaptable and will grow very well in most conditions.

What does the Malabar Chestnut look like?

It is a stunning tree.  Foliage is shiny deep green, with lighter green new growth. Leaves are palmate, or finger-shaped.  It gives away its distant relative - the Boabob with a distinctive swollen trunk base.  This makes it very suitable as a bonsai or house plant, as well as a beautiful shade tree for parks, gardens and bush blocks.  The Malabar Chestnut grows up to 18m tall in its tropical native habitat, but in subtropical areas a maximum of 6-7m tall is more likely.

Flowers are quite showy, like a creamy yellow powder puff or shaving brush!  Being self- fertile, you can expect a seed pod to form following each flower.  The seed pod is very woody, 5-7 cm in diameter.