Flame of the Forest Plant Care

Flame of the Forest (Humboldtia vahliana) belongs to the Fabaceae family within the Humboldtia genus. Flame of the Forest is native to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh. Flame of the Forest is also known as Red Bauhinia.

Flame of the Forest displays a tall tree, spreading canopy growth habit, reaching up to 30 ft tall with a spread of approximately 20 ft. Flame of the Forest produces showy clusters of yellow or orange flowers.

Leaf size: approximately 8 inches.

Water a young or newly planted Flame of the Forest every 7–14 days, soaking the whole root zone, until it is established — usually one to two growing seasons. Established trees mainly need water during long dry spells. In a container, water whenever the top few centimetres of soil are dry.

Flame of the Forest thrives in full sun to partial shade.

Humboldtia vahliana tolerates temperatures of 60–85°F. Flame of the Forest prefers humidity levels of 50–80%. A pebble tray or humidifier helps maintain adequate moisture around the plant.

Well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Good drainage is essential for Flame of the Forest to prevent waterlogging, which leads to root rot and fungal issues.

Feed Flame of the Forest every 6 months during the growing season with a balanced, slow-release fertilizer at the rate on the label. Established trees in good soil often need little extra feeding, so let weak growth or pale foliage guide you.

Stop feeding by late summer so new growth can harden before winter.

The PlantoScan app can remind you when to water and when to fertilize each plant.

Choose a spot with full sun to partial shade and well-draining loamy soil with added compost for nutrients. Avoid low spots where water collects after rain.

Flame of the Forest is suited to USDA Zone 10b – 12b.

Plant container-grown or balled-and-burlapped trees in spring or early autumn, setting the root flare at soil level, and water well after planting.

Flame of the Forest can spread to about 20 ft (6.1 m) and reach about 30 ft (9 m) tall. Space plants about 20 ft (6.1 m) apart so mature crowns don't crowd each other, and plant at least half that distance from buildings, fences and paths.

Planning a row or hedge? Try the tree spacing calculator.

Prune Flame of the Forest while it is dormant in late winter: first remove dead, damaged and crossing branches, then thin lightly for shape.

If it flowers in spring, prune right after flowering instead so you don't remove next year's buds. Never take off more than about a quarter of the tree in one year.

Flame of the Forest is frost-tender (hardy to USDA zone 10). In colder areas grow it in a container and move it to a bright, frost-free place before the first frost.

Flame of the Forest can be propagated through seeds, cuttings. Similar propagation techniques also apply to bourdillon's humboldtia plant care, which shares the same genus.

See all plants toxic to cats and plants toxic to dogs.

Flame of the Forest is susceptible to aphids, leaf miners, caterpillars. Inspect the foliage regularly, especially along leaf undersides and stems. Treat infestations promptly with insecticidal soap or neem oil to prevent spread.

Yellow leaves, brown tips or drooping? See common plant problems and how to fix them.

Flame of the Forest grows outdoors in USDA Zone 10b – 12b. It survives winters down to planting zone 10b. Flame of the Forest is native to India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh. In cooler regions, grow Flame of the Forest as a houseplant or bring it indoors before the first frost.