Agati
Sesbania grandiflora
Also listed as Agati grandiflora, Aeschynomene grandiflora
Also known as Vegetable Hummingbird, West Indian-pea, Scarlet Wistaria-tree
Climate Match for your location
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A fast-growing tropical tree producing showy red, pink, or white flowers and edible immature pods. Highly valued in permaculture for nitrogen fixation, rapid biomass production, and nutritious food.
Why grow it
Sesbania grandiflora fixes atmospheric nitrogen efficiently, making it useful for improving soil fertility in tropical and subtropical systems without synthetic inputs. It produces harvestable biomass rapidly and flowers prolifically, outpacing many leguminous trees in growth rate under warm conditions. The edible flowers and immature pods offer a nutritious supplement to perennial polycultures, though yields are modest compared to dedicated food crops.
Watch out for
This species performs best in warm climates and declines noticeably in cooler regions, so site selection by temperature zone matters significantly. The wood is relatively soft and brittle, so young trees benefit from staking in windy locations to prevent breakage during establishment.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native Range
South Asia (India, Myanmar)
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Notable Cultivars
Red and white flowering varieties are most common; selection is primarily by flower color and regional adaptation rather than named cultivars.
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
A fast-growing tropical tree producing showy red, pink, or white flowers and edible immature pods. Highly valued in permaculture for nitrogen fixation, rapid biomass production, and nutritious food.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Agati grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Sesbania grandiflora fixes atmospheric nitrogen efficiently, making it useful for improving soil fertility in tropical and subtropical systems without synthetic inputs. It produces harvestable biomass rapidly and flowers prolifically, outpacing many leguminous trees in growth rate under warm conditions. The edible flowers and immature pods offer a nutritious supplement to perennial polycultures, though yields are modest compared to dedicated food crops.
Watch out for
This species performs best in warm climates and declines noticeably in cooler regions, so site selection by temperature zone matters significantly. The wood is relatively soft and brittle, so young trees benefit from staking in windy locations to prevent breakage during establishment.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Fabaceae
Native Range
South Asia (India, Myanmar)
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Harvest Season
Edible Parts
Season of Interest
Sub-canopy
Smaller trees living beneath the canopy.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Years to Bearing
- Propagation
Similar sub-canopy trees you might consider:
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Companion Planting
Plants well with
Notable Cultivars
Red and white flowering varieties are most common; selection is primarily by flower color and regional adaptation rather than named cultivars.