labakh

Disclaimer: The Trees That We Deliever & Plant Will not look like the Photo. It is only meant to show how it would look like when fully grown. 
 
When in good leaf, this is one of Saudi's most reliable and attractive trees. Its compact growth and wide-spreading crown make it an ideal shade tree. It has bright, green foliage with large leaves that close up at night. From spring to autumn, the clusters of delicate, powder-puff flowers are very fragrant, particularly in the evening, deepening in colour with age. Often still on the tree during flowering and in winter, the flat pods, containing dark, round seeds, are prominent, and remain on the tree when the leaves have dropped, rattling in the wind. Their chattering noise has earned the tree the English common name of ‘Woman’s Tongue’. Unfortunately, owing to shedding of leaves during the hot summer months, the tree can take on a rather desiccated appearance, although this will be improved with regular irrigation. The root system is wide, but shallow. Fertilisation will maintain the lush green foliage and flowering, adding an accent to an arid landscape. A. lebbeck (known in Arabic as Labakh) is often planted in agricultural areas for shade, fodder and fuel wood, and produces dark-brown timber. It is an excellent tree for large gardens, parks and urban open spaces, and especially for roadside planting. Selective pruning of no more than 20% of foliage during the dormant season is necessary during the initial years to retain its shape and maintain a balanced branch framework. Plant during the winter: large specimens, especially those bare-rooted, may be slow to get started.