erythrina

( ehr - ith - RYE - nuh )

At-A-Glance Information

Erythrina, also called Coral Tree, Flame Tree, Kafferboom or Bucare, is a group of deciduous and almost evergreen shrubs and trees. There are many species, valued for their bright colored flowers that range from yellow to greenish white to orange and red. They are commonly used as street and park trees. Take care when planting these in your garden, as the pods that follow blooms contain poisonous seeds and many species also have thorns that can puncture clothing and skin.

erythrina Species and Varietals

The genus Erythrina includes between 115 and 130 species and is a member of the family Fabaceae. The genus name is derived from the Greek word for red, 'erythros'. Erythrina growing zones vary depending on the species; see the descriptions below for more information. To find your zone, click here: Zone Map.

Erythrina x bidwillii
This deciduous shrub grows best in zones 8, 9, and 12-24. Gets to be 8 feet tall and wide, but can also be grown as a tree, in which case it gets to be 20 feet taller or more. Blooms appear in spring and last through winter, but the best flower show is during the summertime. This is a very thorny plant, so it should be planted away from high-traffic areas. Pure-red flowers.

​Erythrina crista-galli (Cocskpur Coral Tree, Common Coral Tree)
This deciduous tree is nearly evergreen in the warmest areas of its growing zones. It blooms best in zones 7-9, 12-17, 19-24, H1 and H2. Can be grown as a shrub or tree and is native to South America. Bark is rough, and flowers appear after the first leaves in spring at the end of each branch. Flowers vary in color from warm pink to wine red. Cut back flower stems after each wave of bloom to encourage more flowering.

Caring for and pruning Erythrina shrubs

​In their native habitats, the plants listed here grow as trees, but in Western gardens they are more likely to be seen as shrubby plants that die to the ground each year and then regrow. They can reach 5 feet tall and wide in a single season. They can be grown either in the ground or in containers; container plants can be moved indoors or into a greeenhouse to prevent complete dieback. Plant in full sun exposure, in well-draining soil that is kept moist. Water regularly in spring, summer and fall and lessen waterings in wintertime when the plant goes into dormancy. These plants do not need to be fertilized. Prune lightly at branch ends at the end of summertime, and as it is getting established, pinch back tips to encourage a more bushy habit. Remove spent flower spikes as they fade. These shrubs flower on old wood, so the more you cut back, the less profuse the next season's blooms will be.

Propagation

Erythrina shrubs can be propagated either by using cuttings, by division or from seed. To ensure that your propagated plant will have the exact same qualities and characteristics as the parent plant, use the cutting or division methods. If you would like to experiment and see what plant you can grow from seed, just keep in mind that it will not necessarily be the same as the parent plant. To propagate your shrub, follow the instructions below:

Propagating Erythrina by Cutting
  1. Gather your materials. You'll need a clean, sanitized, sharp pair of garden shears, rooting hormone, a pencil, and a 3-inch pot filled with well-draining compost or other organic material. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand.
  2. In spring, choose the plant that you'd like to propagate. Ensure that this plant has had a good watering the night before, as this will improve the chances your cutting will take root. Cut one or more 6 inch portion(s) of the end of a non-blooming branch and strip the leaves off of the lower half. Make a hole in your planting medium by pushing your pencil into the soil. Dip the end of the stem in rooting hormone, and plant it in your pot. Fill in soil around the cutting to support it, but do not pack it down too much.
  3. Moisten with water, and ensure that the pot has good drainage. Your pot should be kept in warm, sunny conditions indoors (and not in direct sunlight). Water whenever your soil is dry under the top layer. After about four to six weeks have passed, your cutting should be rooted. When you notice new growth, you'll know you have roots.
  4. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring, when you can transplant it to its new home. Ensure that the last frost of the year has occurred before doing this, as it can seriously damage your new shrub.

​Propagating Erythrina by Division
Division is probably the easiest way to propagate these plants. The idea behind this method is that you are taking an existing clump of live plants and breaking it into smaller segments. Division should be attempted only when the plant is not in its blooming period. To use this method, you will need a clean shovel, clean pruning saw, extra pots if you are not going to immediately plant your divisions in the ground, and well-draining soil to fill the pots (again, if you will not be planting your divisions directly into the ground).
  1. Identify the area of plants you're going to divide. Start by loosening the soil around the plant with your shovel, working your way inward to avoid causing damage to the roots. Once you've gotten your clump out of the ground, lay it out on its side.
  2. Divide the clump into segments, either with your shovel or with a pruning saw, as many as you'd like as long as there are at least three 'shoots' per segment. Lay them out on the ground.
  3. If you will be planting your Coral Tree in the ground, this is when you'll prepare your new hole. Dig a hole (large enough to accommodate the root ball of the clump you are planting) in the ground with your shovel in a sunny location with soil that is well-draining. If you have issues with drainage in your garden, amend with loamy soil before planting. Backfill and water generously.
  4. If you are transporting your division elsewhere, or hanging on to it until you're ready to plant it, you'll need your pot filled with soil. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the root ball of your division, and place your new plant in the soil. Water generously, ensuring that adequate drainage is occurring. Place the pot in a sunny location until you are ready to plant it in the ground.
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Propagating Erythrina by Seed
  1. Keep in mind that the plant you get from seed will not necessarily mimic all of the characteristics of the parent plant. To propagate by seed, you will need a paper bag, a razor or knife, a bowl a pot or tray filled with well-draining compost or other organic material, a spray bottle and a fork. If you don't have any potting medium on hand, you can make some. Just mix together equal parts (by volume) moss peat and horticultural-grade sand or grit sand. You will also, after a few weeks, need individual 3-inch pots for each seedling that grows.
  2. Harvest your seeds. The seed pods are pretty easy to spot, they're large and dangle from the branches, left behind after flowers have faded. Take care when handling them, as the seeds are toxic. Once they have dried out and begun to split open, you can harvest the seeds inside. Cut them off of the plant, placing them in a paper bag. Harvest as many as you can, and place the paper bag in a dry, cool, dark area. They will begin to split open and release the seeds contained inside. Once they have been released, take them out of the bag and put them in a container so you can work with them.
  3. Soak the seeds in water for 24 hours, and then scarify the surface with a razor or knife.
  4. In January, water your prepared seed tray or pot filled with soil, and ensure that good drainage is occurring. Place your seeds in your prepared pot or seed tray about a quarter inch to a half-inch under the soil surface. Cover them with soil and water with your spray bottle. Place your tray of seeds in a warm area that receives bright, indirect light. A greenhouse is the most ideal climate, but a planting tray inside a window will do as well. Germination usually takes 7-14 days from sowing. Once you begin to see seedlings sprout and they are able to be handled, transplant them to their own individual 3-inch pots, filled with the same potting medium as described in Step 1. Loosen the seedlings from the potting medium by digging down with the tines of your fork about an inch and a half, gently working the seedling up until it is out. Then, replant the seedling in its individual pot.
  5. Keep the seedling's potting medium moist, but not wet, by spraying the soil with your spray bottle. Keep your new plant in an area with bright light (though not direct sunlight) and temperatures between 55 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Ensure that the soil stays moist, but not wet, until the next spring (after the danger of frost has passed), when you can transplant it to its new home.
Erythrina seeds are contained in seed pods that are left behind after the flowers fade.
Erythrina seeds are red and toxic; take care when handling them.

Problems and Pests

Although these shrubs are relatively pest and disease-free, they do suffer from the following:
  • Aphids
  • Whiteflies
For more information on these issues, including how to prevent and eradicate them if they pop up, see the links below:
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Gallery

These trees and shrubs will flower before leaf-out.
Coral Tree is commonly placed in grass areas or along roadways.
These plants have thorns, so don't place them close to areas of high traffic.

Videos

All about Erythrina crista-galli.
Learn about this beautiful hybrid variety of Erythrina.

Resources

Erythrina Crista-Galli: Learn Coral Tree Growing and Care
Wikipedia: Erythrina
The New Sunset Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide (2012) - Pages 308 - 309, Erythrina
If you have any questions, comments, concerns, or photos you’d like to add to the gallery, please let me know by sending me a message using the button below!
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