Erythrina - Plant Encyclopedia Results

It will remain as a large shrub in cold climates approximately 5 to 10 ft. tall, growing as a small tree if provided protection from cold temperatures. Erythrina bidwillii prefers full sun to light shade and requires moderate water. It has a thorny trunk, and many of the stems bear large spines or thorns. This Indian Coral Tree is incredibly fast-growing, and can provide an instant impact to any landscape.

The foliage and bark are very ornamental. The plant is also very tolerant of urban pollution. This plant attracts hummingbirds and butterflies and is considered deer resistant. It displays abundant clusters of red, crimson, or vinous flowers during the summer months.

It is best grown in USDA Zones 8-11. Erythrina bidwillii may be grown in a container in cold regions. It is best to keep this plant on the dry side during the winter months and should be brought indoors when temperatures in the 20s or lower are forecasted. During the winter months, the pot should be placed in a cool spot, out of direct sunlight, and be kept lightly moist until the plant is ready to begin growing in the spring. In the summer, the plant will require regular watering and fertilizing. With regular watering and fertilizing, it will produce a larger, more profuse flowers.

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.

Often called Naked Coral Tree or Naked Mexican Coral Tree, Erythrina coralloides is a deciduous plant with a small tree growth of 10-20ft in height. Native to Mexico and found through Central America, this tree can be used for bonsai and is especially popular in tropical and subtropical climates where it has become an invasive species.

Erythrina coralloides is a visually stunning tree that is ideal for landscapes when the bright yellow, off-white and red, crimson, vinous flowers burst in January and February. Since the flowers come out before the foliage, this tree creates a stunning addition to any landscape. The flowers also attract a variety of butterflies, hummingbirds and other pollinators while providing an excellent nectar source.

This plant prefers full sun but can also tolerate some levels of semi-shade. It is drought tolerant but prefers moderate water and easily grows in warm climates. However, Erythrina coralloides is also mature plant cold hardy down to 30s F for a short time, meaning it can thrive in USDA Zones 9-11.

When grown in colder climates, it is especially important to provide the tree with adequate protection from strong winds. When planted in a small pot, it is a good idea to keep the pot indoors during winter months and the plant should be taken care of throughout this period with adequate watering and pests and disease control. To preserve the bonsai shape and encourage the desired branch structure, it is best to prune the tree in the summer when temperatures are more moderate.

It is important to note that the seed of this plant, Erythrina coralloides, is poisonous if ingested. Therefore, it should be handled with caution specifically around small children, pets and livestock.

The Erythrina crista galli is one of the hardiest and most attractive trees in the genus. It can tolerate temperatures as low as the mid twenties and returns from colder temperatures through root runners. Growing as a robust bush and often reaching up to twenty feet high and wide, this small tree has a rapid growth cycle with it maturing to its full size in just a few years. Its dense, rounded habit and heavily thorned branches are covered in large, vibrant red and Crimson flowers during the spring and attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

This tree is highly tolerant to salt, making it ideal for coastal, seaside and other gardens in climates with full sun and which fall under the USDA hardiness zones 9-11. When gardening in colder regions, it should be grown in a container and grown in a warm and well-drained location with an all-purpose potting mix. To keep the tree healthy and promote flower production, the pot should be changed every 2-3 years and supplemented with organic compost fertilizer annually. An extra bi-monthly fertilization may be necessary to ensure larger growth.

This plant has compound leaves with three leaflets, showy scarlet blossoms in spring, followed by large beans which split to reveal bright red seeds in summer and fall. In nature can be found in a forest or natural area in open sandy woods and clearings; weedy in disturbed areas along roadsides, naturalized; landscape as cultivated herbaceous flowering shrub. Seeds are poisonous, but young leaves and flowers may be cooked and safely eaten.

See article about this plant: Coral Bean - Hummingbird Delight.

Erythrina humeana (Coral bean) is a lovely plant native to Brazil that can be used for bonsai. It grows into a large shrub 5-10 ft tall and is preferred in full sun or semi-shade with moderate water. In spring, this species produces spectacular red or crimson, vinous flowers with yellow or orange flowers inside. This plant is sure to be a hit - attracting butterflies and hummingbirds alike! While this plant is not frost hardy, it can tolerate the cold temperatures down to 30s F in a mature plant for a short time. It is also salt tolerant and is great for seaside gardens. Erythrina humeana can be grown in USDA Zone: 9-11. Cuttings of this species root easily and can be used for further propagation.

There are several types of growing care for Erythrina humeana, especially in cold areas. When planting, ensure that the location is sheltered from extreme winds. A sunny, well-draining and moist location is best. When grown in a pot, it is important to choose one that is slightly larger than the root system and filled with soil that is rich in organic matter. Make sure to provide protection from any heavy frost or prolonged periods of cold temperatures and ensure adequate water throughout the growing season. In cold climates, it is highly recommended to bring potted plants inside for the winter or provide additional insulation for protection.

Erythrina latissima, also known as the Coral Tree, is a deciduous semi-evergreen tree that grows in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 through 11. It is a relatively small tree that can reach heights of 10 to 20 feet with a symmetrical, domed canopy. The leaves are typically composed of three leaflets, which are wider than long and pubescent when juvenile. Along the veins, the leaves are prominently visible.

The tree's most distinguishing features are its coral-red flowers that form in abundant, robust racemes. The flowers of the Coral Tree bloom in late winter and early spring, when the tree is almost bare of leaves. Not only are the flowers attractive, they also produce an aroma that is quite sweet. Not surprisingly, they attract a wide array of birds and butterflies.

Soil and water requirements for the Coral Tree is also fairly simple. It prefers well-drained soil and moderate watering. They prefer full sun and good air circulation, ensuring that they get maximum protection from disease and pests. Because of its frost sensitivity, the Coral Tree should be avoided in colder climates Indiana and other states with cold winters and cool summers will not provide a hospitable environment for the tree to thrive.

In climates where the Coral Tree may be prone to frost damage, it can be grown in a container, which can be moved into a protected environment during winter. In these regions, it is best to give the tree a sunny spot, with lightly moist soil and plenty of airflow. It should also be made sure to prepare the roots for winter and provide the tree with proper protection from the wind a layer of mulch around the trunk will help to shield and protect it from the elements.

Not only is the Coral Tree a beautiful ornamental tree popular with gardeners, it also has ethnomedical uses in some parts of the world. Extracts from this plant have historically been used to treat a variety of ailments, such as fever, diarrhea, malaria, and skin infections.

As a result, the Coral Tree is both a stunning specimen with its brilliant, deep red flower displays and an interesting ethnomedical plant. It's no wonder why this small evergreen tree is in high demand with gardeners, and rightly so few trees can boast such a vibrant display of colors and medicinal properties.

This is a stocky, thickset tree that often branches low down and usually grows up to 30ft in height, occasionally reaching 36ft. The bark is smooth and dark gray to gray-brown and is not thickly corky. Short, hooked prickles are sparsely and randomly scattered on the trunk and branches. The leaves are trifoliolate (compound leaves with 3 leaflets), and each leaflet is large, usually up to 17 x 7". The petiole, rachis and the midrib have hooked prickles on them. The common coral tree blooms in early spring and it produces flowers before new leaves or just as the leaves begin to show. The flowers are a beautiful clear scarlet and are carried in short, dense heads, about 9 cm long, on long, thick stalks. The standard petal (the large uppermost petal) is long and narrow and encloses the other petals and the stamens. The flowers produce abundant nectar that attracts many nectar-feeding birds and insects, which attract the insect-feeding birds as well. This tree prefers dry winters, but it will thrive in the wet winters of Western Cape as long as it is planted in well-drained soil and watered during the dry summers. Erythrina lysistemon is propagated from seed, cuttings and truncheons. Seed is sown in spring and summer, in a well-drained, general-purpose potting soil, placed in a warm but shaded spot and kept moist. Soaking the seed overnight in warm (not hot) water is not necessary for germination to occur, but should hurry things along. Dusting the seed prior to sowing, or drenching after sowing, with a fungicide that combats pre-emergence damping off, although not essential, will increase the percentage germination. Cuttings are best taken in spring to summer, and truncheons in late winter to spring. Truncheons are made from part of or even an entire branch which is left to dry and heal for a few days, then planted into a pot filled with sand or even directly into the soil where the plant is to be grown, and kept damp but not wet. If a plant has to be transplanted, this is best done whilst it is dormant, during winter.

Erythrina poeppigiana is a fast-growing tree, reaching 30 to 35 m in height and more than 1 m d.b.h. The gray bark has conical thorns, primarily on the branches and young twigs.

Erythrina poeppigiana is not demanding of soils, growing very well in heavy soils poor in nutrients and adapting to acid soils.

The bark, seeds, and roots have medicinal properties because they contain some alkaloids. They are also used in insecticides. The roots and parts of the tree are macerated and used to stun fish so they can be caught easily. The trees are planted as ornamentals and the seeds are used in necklaces and ornaments.

Erythrina is a genus of tropical and subtropical flowering trees. The name Coral Tree is used for many of these trees.

All species of Erythrina have bean-like seed pods.

The seeds of over 40 of the species contain alkaloids, and some of the Amazonian species are used for medicinal and other purposes by indigenous peoples.