Caesalpinia pulcherrima 'Compton', Poinciana pulcherrima

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

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The National Flower of Barbados. It appears on the Barbados Coat of Arms. References to this flower were recorded as early as 1657. It is a shrub and is often pruned into a low hedge. If untrimmed it grows to a height of 10 to 15 feet. The Pride of Barbados blooms all year round, the more common varieties of caesalpinia are a fiery red and yellow "sunset color" although other variations can be found. The flower has five petals with a yellow margin in a pyramidal inflorescence. Each flower is about 1.5 inches across with five sepals. The ten stamens are long and the pistils project from the center of the flower. The fifth petal is far smaller than the other four. The stamens have colored filaments with anthers at the tips however, the eleventh filament bears a stigma and is the style. The branches a prickly and the leaves are large and doubly compound about one foot long and six inches wide with many small leaflets.

Similar plants:

• Erythrostemon gilliesii, Caesalpinia gillesii, Poinciana gilliesii (Yellow Bird of Paradise, Yellow dwarf poinciana, Bird of Paradise Bush, Desert Bird of Paradise)
• Caesalpinia bonduc (Grey Nicker, Bonduc Nut)
• Caesalpinia cassioides (Flying Fish Flower)
• Caesalpinia coriaria (Diva-Diva, Divi-divi)
• Caesalpinia ferrea (Brazilian Ironwood, Leopard Tree)
• Caesalpinia lutea (Yellow Peacock flower, Barbados pride, dwarf poinciana, Barbados flower-fence)
• Caesalpinia mexicana (Mexican Bird of Paradise, Dwarf Poinciana)
• Caesalpinia pulcherrima (Peacock Flower, Barbados Pride, Dwarf Poinciana, Barbados Flower-fence, Gold Mohur)
• Caesalpinia pulcherrima Mexican Flame (Mexican Peacock flower)
• Caesalpinia sappan, Biancaea sappan (Sappanwood, Bukkum-wood, Gango )