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Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Red Bird of Paradise

Plant photo of: Caesalpinia pulcherrima
Information by: PlantMaster        Photographer: Mountain States Nursery

 

Description

With showy orange-red flowers and bright red stamens during summer, this is an excellent plant for tropical designs. It is also useful in desert settings, complete with infrequent, deep supplemental water. Following bloom period, brown pods appear on the shrub and sometimes "explode" creating percussion sounds in your landscape. Foliage is evergreen, fern-like, green colored turning red in winter. It can grow to 6'-15' tall and wide. It is best if cut to the ground in early spring to regenerate new stems. Ripe seeds are poisonous. Growth is rapid in summer. It prefers good drainage and full sun. Additional Common Name: Dwarf Poincia

 

Plant Type

Shrub

Height Range

6-12', 12-25'

Flower Color

Orange, Red, Multi-Colored

Flower Season

Summer

Leaf Color

Green

Bark Color

n/a

Fruit Color

Brown

Fruit Season

Fall

Sun

Full

Water

Low

Growth Rate

Fast

Soil Type

Sandy, Clay, Loam, Rocky, Unparticular

Soil Condition

Average, Poor, Well-drained, Dry

Soil pH

Neutral

Adverse Factors

Messy, Poisonous

Design Styles

Mediterranean, Ranch, Spanish, Tropical

Accenting Features

Showy Flowers, Specimen

Seasonal Interest

Spring, Summer

Location Uses

Background, Foundation, Patio, Raised Planter, Walls / Fences

Special Uses

Hedge, Screen, Mass Planting

Attracts Wildlife

n/a

Water Saving Tip:

Replace turf with groundcovers, trees, and shrubs. If you have areas where no one uses the grass, patches that do not grow well, or a turf area too small to water without runoff, consider replacing the turf with water-efficient landscaping.