Cassia leptophylla aka Gold Medallion Tree

Cassia leptophylla, also known as the gold medallion tree, is a tropical tree species in the Cassia genus, indigenous to southeastern Brazil. It is a small open-crowned tree with spreading, slightly drooping branches that typically matures to 20-30' tall. The tree is noted for producing large pinnate leaves with glossy green leaflets and a showy display of fragrant yellow flowers in summer arranged in 6-10" long terminal clusters, each containing 30-50 flowers. The flowers bloom intermittently throughout the year and are followed by slender, twisted, woody bean pods that grow up to 2' long and remain on the tree until the following year. The pods are rectangular in cross-section and rattle festively. Each even-pinnate compound leaf (to 12-18" long) has 9-14 pairs of small narrow leaflets (each to 2.5" long). This tree is considered to be semi-evergreen, dropping some leaves during the year, sometimes in tropical climates having dry seasons and sometimes in winter if extended cool weather or a tinge of frost occurs. The tree is recognized by its thin green foliage with glossy green pinnate leaflets, and the fruit is a long thin seedpod with four sides. The sticky brown pulp inside the pods has been used in herbal medicines. The gold medallion tree is now grown primarily as an ornamental in tropical and subtropical areas around the world, and it is noted for performing better in the climate of the State of California than other species of Cassia. It is also a rare houseplant that thrives with regular watering and long-lasting, direct light, and should be less than 1 foot from a window.