Pachira - fortune tree

Family: Malvaceae (Sub-family: Bombacoideae)
Common names: Fortune tree, Malabar Chestnut, Lykke Kastanie, Provision Tree, Saba Nut, Guiana Chestnut, Malabar Chestnut, Chestnut of the Maranhao, Pareira Decuba, Munguba.
Synonyms: Grandiflora pachira, Carolinea princeps, Aquatica pachira, Nitida pachyra. Bombax aquaticum
Origin: Central America and northern South America.
Light: ful sun to shade
Soil: well drained
Water: Maximum
Height: up to 20 meters
Blooms: warm months of the year

Description:
Guiana chestnut is a spreading tree that grows to 60 ft in the wild, but it is usually more like a large shrub in cultivation. The shiny, bright green, alternate palmately compound leaves of the Malabar chestnut grow to about 12 inches long and are quickly shed. The petals of the very large creamy white flowers curl back to the base of the flower, leaving only the spectacular clusters of 3 to 4 inch cream-white stamens. The fruit is an ovoid, woody green pod which may reach 4 to 12 inches in length and 2 to 2-1/2 inches in diameter. The tightly packed seeds (nuts) inside enlarge until the pod bursts and the seed fall to the ground.

Culture:
Pachiras are some of the easiest plants to grow. Perhaps the only thing that should be avoided is temperatures bellow freezing even though they will tolerate them for short periods of time. Guiana chestnut does best in locations protected from warm, drying winds. It needs consistent and regular watering, but in the colder months the plant should be kept on the dry side. It should be fertilized monthly during the growing season (warm months).

Today we find Pachiras sold in 2 different forms:
- several plants, planted in a single pot and their trunks braided.
- 1 plant per pot; the Pachira will develop into a full grown tree. When mature, Pachiras provide very dense shade and will produce beautiful white flowers.

Propagation:
Plants are easily started from seed and will root from cuttings.

Pests and diseases: Container specimens should be watched for usual house plant pests such as mealybugs.

Info:
- Many Asian cultures believe that good fortune follows with every new leaf Pachira aquatica unfurls.
- It is cultivated in many tropical regions, including Hawaii and Southern California. In the wild, Pachira aquatica is a wetland tree that grows in freshwater swamps associated with tropical estuaries. It often grows alongside rivers, where its branches arch out over the water.
- Guiana chestnut is grown both for tropical effect and for its edible nuts. The nuts taste sort of like peanuts. They are harvested when the seed pods burst and eaten raw, roasted, or fried. They also can be ground into a flour for baking bread. The young leaves and flowers may be cooked and used as a vegetable.