TROPICAL PLANT ENCYCLOPEDIA


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Erythrina caffra, Erythrina constantiana, Erythrina insignis, South African Coral tree, Kaffirboom

Erythrina caffra, Erythrina constantiana, Erythrina insignis

South African Coral tree, Kaffirboom
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Faboideae
Origin: South Africa
USDA Zone: 9-11?
USDA Plant Hardiness MapBig tree taller than 20 ftSmall tree 10-20 ftFull sunModerate waterYellow, orange flowersRed, crimson, vinous flowersThorny or spinyPlant attracts butterflies, hummingbirdsDeciduous plant

Erythrina caffra is often confused with Erythrina lysistemon, the Common Coral tree. Erythrina caffra grows in the coastal and riverine fringe forests from Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal to the Humansdorp District in Eastern Cape and in a pocket further north on the KwaZulu-Natal coast. It is generally taller than Erythrina lysistemon, the flowers are orange-scarlet, and a cream-flowered form is occasionally seen, and the standard petal is shorter and broader so that the stamens stick out of the flower giving it a whiskered look. In most other respects they are very similar, and were in fact regarded as the same variable species for many years and, when not in flower, are difficult to tell apart.


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Link to this plant:
https://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/erythrina_caffra.htm