Cassia Nodosa Plant Guide: Care, Growth, Flowers & Growing Tips

If you've ever driven past a tree wrapped in clouds of pink and white blossoms and wondered what it was, chances are you were looking at Cassia Nodosa  better known as the Pink Shower Tree or Apple Blossom Cassia. At Hani Plants, this is one of the most requested ornamental trees for gardens, driveways, and lawns across Pakistan, and it's easy to see why. Few flowering trees deliver this much drama for so little effort.

This guide covers everything you need to know about growing and caring for Cassia Nodosa, from its flowers to its long-term growth habits.

What Is Cassia Nodosa?

Cassia Nodosa, also known scientifically as Cassia javanica subsp. nodosa, is a medium to large deciduous flowering tree native to Southeast Asia. Its name comes from the small swollen "nodes" found along its branches. Gardeners often call it the Pink Shower Tree because of the way its blossoms cascade downward in thick, showy clusters, fading from deep pink to soft white as they age — a bit like apple blossoms, hence another of its nicknames.

It's a favourite for parks, streetscapes, and home gardens because it grows fast, needs little maintenance, and rewards you with one of the most spectacular flowering displays of any tree you can plant.

Cassia Nodosa Flowers

The flowers are the star of the show. Each bloom is made up of soft, rounded petals in shades ranging from rose pink to blush white, arranged in dense, hanging clusters along the branches. Ten curved yellow stamens sit at the centre of each flower, adding a delicate contrast to the pink petals.

Flowering typically peaks in spring and early summer, when the tree can be almost entirely covered in blossoms, often with few leaves visible at all. The blooms also carry a light, pleasant fragrance and are known to attract bees and pollinators, making the tree as good for the local ecosystem as it is for curb appeal.

Growth Habit and Size

Cassia Nodosa is a fast grower once established. Left to mature, it typically reaches:

• Height: 15–25 feet (roughly 4.5–7.5 metres), occasionally taller in ideal conditions
• Spread: Around 20 feet, with a graceful, spreading to slightly pendulous crown
• Foliage: Feathery, pinnate leaves made up of many small leaflets, giving the canopy a light, fern-like texture

It's briefly deciduous, shedding some of its leaves during the dry season before bursting back into growth — and bloom — once conditions warm up.