Coral Bean - Hummingbird Delight
Erythrina herbacea

by Onika Amell, tropical plant expert
Q: I am creating a natural, native garden on the southwest coast
of Florida. In some of the far corners of my landscape, my soil
unfortunately is poor and my irrigation does not reach these areas. I am hoping to find
something unusual and native to grow in these challenging areas of my garden.
Any luck of finding something tough that will also attract hummingbirds
and/or butterflies?
A: Most of us have these areas in our gardens where the soil is
sandy or where irrigation simply does not reach. It is always wise to choose
tough, native plants that will grow in these areas with minimum care,
fertilizer or the luxury of being watered regularly.
One plant to consider is the Coral bean or Erythrina herbacea. This
legume, native to the southern portions of the United States, is
Florida-friendly, unusual and a great choice for natural and informal planting. It will add
interest to these challenging area(s) of your landscape from spring to fall...


