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| Category: Tree |
| Family: Fabaceae = Pea Family |
| Origin: Brazil (South America) |
| Flower Color: Pink |
| Bloomtime: Spring |
| Synonyms: [E. laurifolia] |
| Height: 15-20 feet |
| Width: 15-20 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Drought Tolerant: Yes |
| Irrigation Req.: Low Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 15-20° F |
| May be Poisonous (More Info): Yes |
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Erythrina crista-galli (Cockspur Coral Tree) - A deciduous small tree from S. America (Brazil, Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina, Uruguay) that grows to 15 to 20+ feet tall and equal width with a somewhat crocked trunk having dark furrowed bark. The leaves are comprised of 3 dark green leaflets, 3 to 6 inches long by 1 1/2 inch wide, that have curved thorns on the veins on the backside and petioles. The 2 inch long by 1 inch wide flowers, usually a scarlet-red but sometimes pink or red-purple, are borne singly or in groups of 2-3 in loose terminal racemes to 2 feet long from spring to summer. These inflorescences emerge from the current years growth and several flushes of flowers can appear, particularly if old flower stalks are pruned off. Plant in full sun and irrigate only occasionally. This is one of the hardiest of the coral trees and is noted that once established it will tolerate temperatures to 20° F without significant dieback and is root hard down to 14° F. It is best to prune this tree at least annually to remove the past years spent flower spikes and to encourage repeat flowers and maintain size. The common name comes from the similarity between the comb of a rooster and the broad crimson petals in the flower. The tree in the picture is growing in the Royal Botanic Garden in Melbourne, Australia. Our thanks to Brad Monroe for the shot.
The description above is based on our research and observations of this plant growing in our nursery and in our own and other Santa Barbara gardens. We would appreciate hearing from anyone who has additional information or disagrees with what we have written.
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