How to Sprout Monkey Pod Rain Tree Seeds

Native to Central and South America, monkey pod trees (Albizia saman or Pithecellobium saman) are known under a wide range of common names including saman and rain tree. Favored for their broad canopies and delightful fragrance of the bark, monkey pod trees can grow to a gigantic size when allowed room to grow and can live for over 500 years. Money pod trees can be grown as an ornamental house plant or planted outdoors in U.S. hardiness zones 8 to 9. Gathering seeds and sprouting is an easy way to propagate new trees.

Things You'll Need

• Organic compost
• Peat moss
• Potting soil

Instructions

1. Gather seeds. Seeds are easily collected by gathering pods that are laying on the ground and drying them until they open.

2. Prepare a nutrient rich potting mixture. Monkey pod trees grow best in nutrient rich, moist soil. Mix equal parts of potting soil, organic compost and peat moss.

3. Fill new or washed small pots or containers with the planting mixture. Pots or containers should have hole in the bottom to provide adequate drainage.

4. Place one seed in each pot and cover with a light layer of about 1/4 inch of the potting mixture. Water lightly. Soil should remain moist but not saturated.

5. Place in a warm humid spot with filtered sunlight such as a bathroom or kitchen window sill.

Tips & Warnings

• Seeds from young trees are unlikely to produce viable seeds. Choose seeds from older, established trees.

References

• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
• USDA Forest Service
• Tree-Seeds.com