The Fiery Red Flamboyant Tree
The familiar world around us is a deep, beautiful mystery.
The Royal Poinciana is named after Philippe de Lonvilliers de Poincy, the 17th century governor of the French Antilles. It is said that he brought it to the region from Madagascar.
Ranging from a rare, pale yellow through several hues of orange, to deep, majestic, fiery red, it is called by many names: the Flame Tree, the July Tree, the Formosa Tree, the Freedom Tree, but the Flamboyant Tree is the most popular name and is most expressive of the character of its color.
Encircling the Earth in this tropical zone with its vibrant blooms, it is classified as one of the ten most beautiful trees in the world. It loses its feathery leaves and is bare-branched in late Spring, bursts into fiery bloom, cascading to the ground from May to September, then envelops itself in cool dense blue-green foliage, tipped with yellow, and broods in deep shade waiting to explode once again. It has been adopted in our Caribbean region as the national tree and flower of most of our islands, including St. Martin.
From childhood, it has attracted and enchanted me.
I love its cool shade, its umbrella shape, its wonderful smell, and most especially its beautiful fiery flamboyant red color. I’ve spent the better part of the last thirty summers exploring it in my paintings.
Sir Roland Richardson
St. Martin
“Grand Flamboyant with View of Baie Longue” 7ft x 10ft “Plein Air”
