Caesalpinia pulcherrima
Red Bird of Paradise
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
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.