Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Peacock flower lives up to its name with incredibly showy blossoms of orange and red. The striking flowers are an attention grabber! Evergreen shrub or small tree in frost free climates, a deciduous shrub in zone 9, and a returning perennial in zone 8. In the tropics it gets 15-20' tall and its ungainly, wide spreading branches can cover about the same width. In cultivation the peacock flower is usually 8-12' tall, growing that large even after freezing to the ground the previous winter. The stem, branches and petioles are armed with sharp spines and the leaves are fernlike and twice compound, with many small, oval leaflets. The flowers are bowl shaped, 2-3" across, with five crinkled, unequal red and orange petals, and ten prominent bright red stamens that extend way beyond the corolla. The flowers are borne in terminal clusters 8-10" tall throughout most of the year in tropical climates and in late summer and fall where frosts occur. There also are forms with yellow and forms with dark red flowers. The fruits, typical legumes, are flat, 3-4" long, and when ripe they split open noisily to expose the little brown beans. Very easy to grow in alkaline to acidic, well-drained soils. This is a fast growin plant. It is moderately tolerant of salty conditions. Peaccock flower benefits from pruning, and can be shaped to tree form or shrubby bush form. Use peacock flower as a specimen or in a mixed shrub border. It has an open, spreading habit and the branches sometimes get too long for their own good and break off. Still, a line of peacock flowers makes a showy fine-textured screen or informal hedge. You can cut peacock flower to the ground in late winter or early spring to get a bushier, more compact shrub.

Varieties:

Caesalpinia pulcherrima Compton

Caesalpinia pulcherrima var. flava

Caesalpinia pulcherrima Lemon Lace

Caesalpinia pulcherrima Mexican Flame

Caesalpinia pulcherrima var. rosea

Caesalpinia pulcherrima 'Compton', Poinciana pulcherrima

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.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima Mexican Flame

This variety of caesalpinia has very bright flowers turning from yellow to red - with yellow, orange and red flowers in the same bunch. The stem is covered with soft thorns that feel like feather. Medium size shrub or samll tree, perfect for small yards or patio. It is moderately tolerant of salty conditions. Peacock flower benefits from pruning, and can be shaped to tree form or shrubby bush form. The striking orange red flowers are an attention grabber! Use peacock flower as a specimen or in a mixed shrub border. It has an open, spreading habit and the branches sometimes get too long for their own good and break off. Still, a line of peacock flowers makes a showy fine-textured screen or informal hedge. You can cut peacock flowers to the ground in late winter or early spring to get a bushier, more compact shrub.

Caltha palustris

A hardy, succulent perennial of marsh and waterside.

Native Americans used various preparations of the roots to treat colds and sores, as an aid in childbirth and to induce vomiting, and as a protection against love charms; infusions of leaves were taken for constipation. Poisonous Part - leaves.

Capsicum annuum

Start indoor in a warm location from the end of December to February. Move seedlings to a sunny place. Plant the 8-10 weeks old seedlings outside in March or April, being careful to harden them off gradually by exposing them gradually to outdoor conditions.

Flowering season - within summer to frost. Grown for colorful 1 to 2in fruit: black, red, white, yellow, cream. Light requirements: sun to partial shade. Heat and drought tolerant; prefers moist, rich soil; best to keep evenly moist.