Seed Availability

Seeds are not available for the Pongam. Please visit our seed store to view current selections. Seeds were last available in November 2013.

Description

Medium sized tree growing up to 40 ft with a large spreading canopy up to 40 ft. wide. Flowers in spring with fruit in summer. Fruit is brown in color and seed pods are poisonous.

Hardiness

Unknown.

Growing Environment

Grows in full sun. Can tolerate all types of soil including high salinity. Is also drought tolerant. Fairly hardy, but can not tolerate temperatures below freezing. Resistant to pests. Optimal conditions include full sun to part shade in well drained soil.

Propagation

By seeds or root suckers. Seeds are viable for a year if stored properly and should germinate within 1-5 weeks of planting.

Uses

Often used for landscaping purposes due to the large canopy and showy flowers. The bark is used to make twine or rope. In india the flowers provide pollen for honeybees. The seed oil is also an important asset of this tree being used for fuel, soap making, lubricant, and medical remedies including being prescribed for rheumatism arthritis, whooping cough, skin ailments.

Native Range

Thought to have originated from India and is naturalized in various humid and subtropical regions of Asia. Including Pakistan, India, and throughout South-East Asia. Also naturalized in Fiji, Australia, Japan, and Malaysia. Introduced to other humid environments around the world including Egypt, Florida, and Hawaii. Generally found along coasts or river banks.

Related Species

Fabaceae
	Acacia caven Espinillo		Acacia farnesiana Sweet Acacia
	Acacia koa Koa		Acacia podalyriifolia Pearl Acacia
	Acacia verticillata Prickly Moses		Bauhinia forficata Brazilian Orchid Tree
	Bauhinia variegata Orchid Tree		Caesalpinia echinata Brazilwood
	Caesalpinia gilliesii Desert Bird of Paradise		Cassia closiana Golden Cassia
	Cassia excelsa Crown of Gold Tree		Cassia fistula Golden Shower Tree
	Cassia grandis Coral Shower Tree		Cassia x nealiae (Cassia fistula x javanica) Rainbow Shower Tree
	Ceratonia siliqua Carob		Delonix regia Royal Poinciana
	Erythrina crista-galli Cockspur Coral Tree		Indigofera australis Indigo
	Inga cinnamomea Inga Acu		Inga edulis Ice Cream Bean
	Inga feuillei Pacay		Inga laurina White Inga
	Inga marginata Guabilla		Inga sessilis Monkey Inga
	Inga vulpina Pink Flowered Inga		Inocarpus fagifer Polynesian Chestnut
	Hyacinth Bean Lablab purpurea		Azure Blue Sweet Pea Lathyrus sativus
	Leucaena leucocephala Koa Haole		Mimosa pudica Sensitive Plant
	Parkia javanica Sataw		Scarlet Runner Bean Phaseolus coccineus
	Pithecellobium dulce Manila Tamarind		Pithecellobium flexicaule Texas Ebony
	Pongamia pinnata Pongam		Samanea saman Monkey Pod
	Senna alata Candle Bush		Senna multiglandulosa Buttercup Bush
	Senna surattensis Singapore Shower		Strongylodon macrobotrys Jade Vine
	Tamarindus indica Tamarind		Vicia faba Fava Bean