Wednesday in the garden: Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Hot colors dominate my July garden and none is hotter than Caesalpinia pulcherrima, 'Pride of Barbados'. The plant has several other popular names as well - Peacock Flower, Mexican Bird of Paradise, Dwarf Poinciana, Barbados Flowerfence, etc. - but Pride of Barbados is how it is commonly called in this area. 

That name betrays its tropical origins. It is believed to be native to the West Indies and tropical America. It is widely cultivated and, since it reseeds prolifically, it has escaped cultivation and become established in tropical regions around the world.

Its species name pulcherrima literally means "very pretty" and that is a fair description of this shrub's flowers.

The plant has flower clusters that are more than a foot long and the blossoms develop slowly, over a period of weeks, starting at the bottom of the cluster and spreading all the way to the end. The flowers start as orange-red tinged with gold and, as they age, they become more orange, less gold. (The yellow flower in the background of this picture is yellow cestrum.)

As the blossoms mature and are pollinated by bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, the seeding fruit develops. One look at them will give you a very good idea of what family it comes from. Yes, it is the pea family.

The plant develops as a shrub or small tree. In frost free climates, it is evergreen and most likely to be tree-like. In my zone 9a garden, it is a deciduous shrub that dies back to the ground if we get temperatures below freezing in winter, but it comes back in the spring. My plant gets 5' to 8' tall and just about that wide. In more tropical regions, it can grow as high as 15' to 20' tall and wide. 
  

From June until autumn, the shrub carries these striking orange-red flowers. Any butterfly in the area will head straight for them, attracted by those hot colors and the nectar that they promise.

July and August are typically hot, dry, and miserable here, but 'Pride of Barbados' never wilts under the broiling sun and requires only minimal water when we go for long periods without rain. It has been a great addition to my garden.

Backyard Nature Wednesday: "Pride of Barbados"

"Pride of Barbados" blooming in my back garden this week.

Caesalpinia pulcherrima is its proper name, but it is better known by many more common monikers. Among these are Dwarf Flamboyan, Dwarf Poinciana, Mexican Bird of Paradise, Barbados Flowerfence, and Peacock Flower, but in this area it is best known as Pride of Barbados.

It is possible that it did indeed originate in Barbados, but it is so widely naturalized in tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas that it is virtually impossible to be completely sure. What is certain is that it is a showy heat-loving plant that is a staple in the gardens of Southeast Texas.

In my area, it is a returning perennial shrub that dies back to the roots in winter and comes back in spring. It can grow 5-8 feet in a season and sports its incredible orange-red to yellow flower clusters throughout the summer and into the fall. It is easy to grow in a variety of soils, from alkaline to acidic, as long as it is well drained. It is said to be short-lived, though I've had mine for several years and it shows no signs of slowing down. It readily reseeds and presently I have a couple of "volunteers" going that I need to transplant.

One more thing about this showy member of the pea family: Butterflies love it! In fact, that is one of the main reasons that I planted it originally. If you live in zone 8 or zone 9 and don't have Pride of Barbados in your garden, you are missing out. Give it a try. I think you'll become a fan.

  

Pride of Barbados - ready for its close-up.