Pink Shower

Scientific name: Cassia javanica

POWO Status: Tree

IUCN Red List threat level: Least Concern

GPS Location: 17° 42′ 54.73″ N, 64° 49′ 49.41″ W

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Observations:

Phenological Markers – Cassia javanica

Common Name: Pink Shower Tree, Apple Blossom Tree, Java Cassia
Scientific Name: Cassia javanica L.
Family: Fabaceae (Caesalpinioideae subfamily)

Leaf Phenology

  • Leaf Type: Pinnately compound with 6–12 pairs of opposite leaflets; bright green, oblong
  • Deciduous/Semi-deciduous: Deciduous to semi-deciduous—often drops most or all leaves just before flowering
  • Leaf Flush: New leaves typically emerge after flowering, often with young reddish or bronze coloration
  • Senescence: Leaf drop precedes floral display, creating a dramatic “bare-then-bloom” transition

Flowering

  • Inflorescence: Large, terminal or axillary panicles of pink to rose-colored flowers with yellow stamens
  • Blooming Period: Late dry season to early rainy season (often spring to early summer in tropical regions)
  • Pollinators: Bees, butterflies, and possibly sunbirds
  • Phenological Indicator: Masses of pink blossoms on largely leafless branches—highly conspicuous and seasonal

Fruiting

  • Fruit Type: Long, cylindrical, woody pod; dark brown to black when mature, up to 60 cm long
  • Fruit Development: Begins after flowering and ripens over several months
  • Dispersal: Gravity and possibly animal assistance (pods may remain hanging or drop intact)
  • Phenological Indicator: Presence of long, dark seed pods hanging from branches, often alongside new foliage

Suggested Photo Angles

  • Full tree habit during flowering (leafless or nearly so)
  • Close-up of compound leaves and new leaf flush
  • Dense pink flower clusters
  • Developing and mature seed pods
  • Seasonal contrast between bare, flowering, and flushed states

Notes for Monitoring

Similar in habit to Cassia fistula (Golden Shower Tree), but with pink instead of yellow flowers

Cassia javanica is a spectacular ornamental species known for its dramatic flowering on bare branches, making it easy to photograph and track phenologically

Best time to monitor: Just before and during flowering, when tree transitions from leaf drop to full bloom

Fruit production is less conspicuous but valuable for long-term observation

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