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Scientific Name
Cassia × nealiae
Class
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fabales
Family
Fabaceae
Genus
Cassia
Status in Hawaii
Introduced
Native Region
Hybrid developed in Hawaii, Parent species from Southeast Asia and India
Cultural Significance
Cassia × nealiae is a hybrid of Cassia fistula from Southeast Asia with yellow flowers and cassia javanica from Asia, with pink and white flowers. The cultivar is named after Wilhelmina Tenney, a prominent Honolulu businesswoman and philanthropist. It is a beloved urban landmark as a locally developed hybrid and symbol of LGBTQ+ history and inclusion. The tree is also named after Marie C. Neal, a pioneering botanist who led the Bishop Museum's botany department for decades. Cassia x nealiae honored the life of two accomplished women who maintained long-term same-sex relationships, especially when such visibility was rare. Its vibrant rainbow blossoms represent the intertwined legacies of Honolulu's botanical innovation, women's leadership, and commitment to diversity and inclusion.
Sources
Cassia ×nealiae - Plant Detail - Tropical Plants Database - NTBG Database. (2025). Ntbg.org. https://ntbg.org/database/plants/detail/cassia-~nealiae
Rainbow. (2019). Lei Pua Ala Queer Histories of Hawai’i Project. Lei Pua Ala Queer Histories of Hawai’i Project. https://www.queerhistoriesofhawaii.org/rainbow-shower-tree
Collection Date
Fall 10-11-2025
Collection Number
BYUH_25_20
Recommended Citation
Gamba, Clariza Mae Anoc, "Wilhelmina Tenney Rainbow Shower Tree" (2025). Herbarium Collection. 13.
https://digitalcollections.byuh.edu/herbarium/13