This tree has a greyish trunk and branches that are upright and spreading forming a broad dense rounded crown. It has dark green divided leaves and the small pea-shaped pinkish flowers appear in sprays in spring followed by woody pods.

Hardiness zones 10 to 12

Pongamia pinnatais naturally found from south-east Asia to Malaysia, Indonesia and northern Australia growing along the coast in monsoonal thickets on stabilised sand dunes or along creeks in forests with permanent water.

It prefers an open sunny humid position and grows in well drained sandy soils with reliable moisture and is frost and drought tender but salt spray tolerant.

Pongam is grown for its spreading habit and its attractive foliage. It is planted in beach settings, large gardens or parks as a shade tree or for screen planting along borders. It may also be used as a street tree establishing in 3 to 4 years and tolerating pruning. It is suitable for coastal or inland regions along water courses or around a water feature. The trunk tends to be massive and the broad umbrella-like crown is dense making it an excellent shade tree. ID 2990

Note:
In its native environment is may attain a height of 25m (80ft) but under cultivation it normally only grows to 12m (40ft).

Pongamia(pon-GAM-ea) pinnata(pin-NA-ta)

Fabaceae (fab-AY-see-ee)