PlantFiles: Midnight Horror, Broken Bones Plant, Indian Trumpet Flower, Tree of Damocles
Oroxylum indicum

We first planted this species in our garden the summer of 2003 and it bloomed the following summer when it was approximately 12' tall. This species develops an inflorescence at the apex of the new growth and the flowers at or near the bottom are the first to open. The flowers open within an hour or two of sunset and will fall off the following day mid-morning after sunrise. Since our specimen has bloomed every summer since 2004 and has failed to set seed, we do not believe the species to be self-fertile. In 2006, we planted two additional specimens near the first. We are hoping that they bloom in 2008 and that at least one specimen sets seed. The species is said to have the largest seedpod in the Bignoniaceae family, reaching 6' in length and shaped like a scimitar. Although the species is said to be bat-pollinated, we have had much success with other species of Bignoniaceae setting seed after being pollinated by moths.
The species is deciduous and in late December or early January, it will drop all its leaves and petioles. The petioles will litter the ground below the tree and after being bleached by the sun, they distinctly resemble a femur bone--possibly the origination of the species common name of the "Midnight Horror Tree". When it decides to end its dormancy in early April, it does it extremely fast; often going from a bare stick to being full of foliage within four weeks.