Tropicals & Tender Perennials: Caesalpinia gilliesii reaching for the sky again., 1 by Clare_CA

Clare_CA wrote:
Antoinette, I agree with you that the Caesalpinia pulcherrima seedlings are indeed tricky little devils. The only ones that I had any success sowing and keeping alive were the C. mexicana seedlings. I now have five or six of those seedlings planted near my driveway, and they are doing very well and get very little water. The flowers of the C. mexicana are not remarkable in my opinion and are all yellow. Good luck with your seedling. I hope you get lots of flowers from them. The blue-green leaves and flowers of the C. pulcherrima plants are much prettier, I think. Although, my C. pulcherrima didn't flower again this summer. It's been in a five-gallon container for a long while now and would probably like a bigger container or a place in the ground. I wonder if it needs some winter chill to bloom. I had it in my portable greenhouse last winter. I think this winter it will have to stay outside and fend for itself.

Thanks, Don. I reread the thread above and read that you normally cut yours back in the winter. I think I will cut mine down even further this winter also. It's good to know that it will stay somewhat compact when it regrows. It sounds like this will be its saving grace! I'm glad too because I like the flowers very much and didn't want to have to dig it up. My C. mexicana plants loved the heat this summer, but my C. pulcherrima refused to bloom so you got me surrounded! Best to you also.