This is a cutting I rooted in the fall so it is small. It had a red bloom but I don't have a picture of it. I was thinking Coral Bean. or is that Castor Bean?? Well something I wanted and did not have. :o)
Coral Bean?
This is a smaller one.
It is a Coral Bean, it is a legume. Have you been feeding it Budwiser?
Yes, Coral Bean a very slow grower in this area, but the flowers are amazing.
Mine is just starting to bloom, it dies to the ground in winter and has a humongous root.
Coral Bean is a fascinating plant. In a huge pot I grew humongous one our deck sheilded by the house from morning sun, and got full blast afternoon sun. It has barbs, to take care. I put it in the ground on the rim of a slope in almost pure caliche. Some years it dies back, but never to the ground. After last years prolonged freezes here in Austin, it was slow in recovering but has many green branches and leaves now and is 4' X 4', it had been 7' X 7'. It's stunning when in full bloom with those bright red bunches of blooms. You've inspired me to try to propagate it.
Ok, Can you buy coral bean seeds anywhere? Can it take a low freeze it it is mulched. I live in thefoothills of Phoenix and it an get very cold in the nights in the winter. Red blooms sound very interesting.
Mickey
Cave Creek, Arizona
I collected the seeds last fall and managed to get 4 or 5 plants. I can see that it is going to be a slow grower. How old does the plant have to be before it blooms?
Mine took five years, but it sure is worth the wait, here it is blooming right at this time.
Wow, Josephine, that's beautiful.
Thanks for letting us know how long it takes to bloom. I had a coral bean that I bought 2 years ago in San Antonio. Last year it grew a big root (right out of the ground), but I couldn't figure out why it didn't grow much or bloom. Now I know. Unfortunately it didn't make it through our cold winter. I replaced it this year with a seedling, and I guess I have a long wait. LOL. Good to know that patience is called for.
I dug ours up local, from a lot at lake Hawkins. They grow in abundance in the hill country. If planted in the ground they can take very cold Winters and very dry Summers.
Thanks, Josephine, I too think it is a beautiful plant. Guess I will just have to admire the parent plant down the road until mine blooms.
Mickey you should be able to grow it but it will die back each year. Mine does. I have not gotten any blooms yet.
5 years?!? I'll never be able to wait!
Mickey
Mine never, even last year, dies back to the ground. Just a different percentage of canes go dry and break of easily. Even yellowy dry ones will put out new leaves. Mine lost maybe 40% last winter because we had so many freezes. Usually I much it deep with large chip cedar, I mean 10" and only a hard freeze (over 3 days in a row) hits it. I have blooms now and am eager to try plants from seed. I have plaenty and can share.
I would love some seed. Dmail me and let me know. :o)
There are several kinds of Coral Bean trees. I have 4 kinds here and they come back every year.
frostweed, Yours is Erythrina bidwillii.
Here is a link to images of diff kinds. http://www.google.com/images?q=erythrina&hl=en&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&rlz=1I7TSHB_enUS342&prmd=i&source=lnms&tbs=isch:1&ei=ba8fTO6lAsP6lwfChIDBDg&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&ved=0CAsQ_AU
This message was edited Jun 21, 2010 12:42 PM
Ilove, read your blip on the vitex thread and thought I should move back to this one. Glad you got the seeds, and I so hope your run of sickness is on the way out.
For kicks I took a pic of a branch from my coral bean, dried and with the seeds about to fall out.
How cool is that?