Here's info online, found via a search with google.com
using the common name of the plant.

http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/rainbow_shower_tree.htm

Or look at all the entries from that google.com search at
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=%22Rainbow+Shower+Tree%22&btnG=Google+Search

Oh yes, looks like it might do okay for you because it's rated for Zone 11. But you might verify that by calling the arboretum or a large specialist garden center which features tropicals.

Here is a link that might be useful: google.com re the tree in question

It would certainly be worth a try, but I'm somewhat pessimistic because it's described as loving hot, dry conditions. Culture sounds a lot like that preferred by Delonix regia which can survive considerable frost well inland, but can't handle the cool, damp though frostless coastal winters.

ryan

Thank you both for your replies, and we had in fact done a google search, but we're still in a bit of a quandary. It would appear that our zone is correct, but when we called a couple of local nurseries, all they could say was that "I don't think they do well here because I haven't heard of anyone growing them." It would appear that the conditions are fine for it, but I can't find any evidence of someone growing one successfully here. Maybe we'll just give it a shot. Does anyone know of this tree growing anywhere in San Diego? Thanks.

Hm, I've lived in San Diego for a while, and it does not look like anything I've seen. With Sunset guide listing its hardiness zone as "H2" that does not seem promising -- they are usually more accurate than just the USDA. I think the problem would be that coastal SD is Zone 10 but with low heat accumulation, while inland SD is Zone 9 with high heat accumulation. Either the lack of heat will cause it to suffer, or the frost will, depending on your area.

SD's climate is very, very different from Hawaii's even though one can grow a lot of tropicals. )But so can San Franciscans, and that is REALLY far from being tropical...) So I'd do even more research on this one...

Good luck!

greengin:

I do know that the plant has been tried MANY times over the past few decades in various parts of San Diego and I know of not one that has survived more than 2-3 years.

Does anyone in SD know of any trees older than this?

Joe

I would second the guess that it just isn't warm enough in winter to keep this one alive. The lack of warm soils, and nights below 50F will not be to its liking. Now if you could guarantee that it never got below 45F and warmed back up to 75F each day and the soil temps never dropped below 55F, you might have a fighting chance. This is a tree that I see all the time in high heat lowland tropics such as Singapore, and I did see this struggling, but blooming, in subtropical desert of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but the temperature ranges I listed above were just borderline for the tree to survive, although it certainly didn't look as good as the trees in Singapore!