Sesbania grandiflora aka August Flower

Sesbania grandiflora is a fast-growing tree in the pea family, Fabaceae. Common names include vegetable hummingbird and scarlet wistaria tree. Kew places its native range from Malesia to New Guinea. Useful Tropical Plants says its exact origin remains uncertain. People grow it across tropical regions for food and ornament. It also grows on dry waste ground and along roadsides.

This short-lived, deciduous tree has soft wood and an open crown. Its loose branches give it a light, spreading form. Garden references give heights of about 39 feet (12 metres). Some accounts report trees reaching 49 feet (15 metres). Its spread can reach about 33 feet (10 metres). The straight trunk may reach 1 foot (0.3 metres) across. The leaves have rounded leaflets, which fall with the seasons. Its flowers can be red or white. Birds pollinate them, and the tree can also set seed alone. The long, narrow pods are flat and thin. They can reach about 1.6 feet (0.5 metres) in length.

Grow this tree in full sun rather than shade. It suits hot, humid conditions in the lowland tropics. It grows best with mean annual temperatures of 22–30°C. Temperatures below about 10°C cause problems. Plants For A Future lists USDA zones 9–12. It prefers moist or wet soil but can withstand drought. It accepts sand, loam, and clay, including heavy clay. Poor soils and a wide pH range are also suitable. It can grow in very acid or saline soil. Choose a site sheltered from wind, which it tolerates poorly.

Growers use this tree for shade, living fences, and plant supports. It also serves as a flowering specimen or conservatory plant. Its roots fix nitrogen, helping improve the soil. Fallen leaves, flowers, and fruits provide mulch or green manure. Other uses include fodder, fuel, fibre, wood, and gum. Sources also record traditional medicinal uses for leaves and bark. These uses do not establish that treatments are safe or effective.

Flowers, young leaves, shoots, and pods serve as food. People eat them raw or cook them in dishes. They often remove the bitter centre from each flower. Young pods can serve much like green beans. Fermented seeds provide another food, including tempeh. The bark produces a gum used in foods. Both use references report no known hazards. This does not establish safety for every use or animal.