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