Outdoor Plants

Large shrub, usually about 1.0 m to 2.0 m tall, may grow into a small tree of up to 5 m in height. Leaves 5 - 8 cm long, obovate in shape, veins arranged in a pinnate fashion with a prominent mid rib. Flowers bisexual, 5 - petaled, triangular and red, 0.7 - 1 cm across with numerous long stamens surrounding a single style in the center. Stamens 1.6 - 2 cm in length while styles range from 2.6 - 3.0 cm. During fruit formation, style remains attached to fruit while stamens drop gradually. As fruit increases in size, style dries up together with the sepals and falls off to expose immature fruit. Upon maturation, fruit turns brown and dry out. Seeds are dispersed via explosive action.Increased popularity among landscape designers but not easy to grow in cultivation. Rarely grows in the wild. Planted along roadsides or parks in Singapore but usually found near coastal areas in its native habitat of Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, Australia.