Red Mexican Bird Of Paradise Bush 'CAELSALPINIA' (CAELSALPINIA PULCHERRIMA)

Close up of the flower!!!!

Can you tell me just how hardy this plant is? What zone? How easy are the seeds to start and how long from seed to bloom? I like the looks of this and if it will grow here, I'll sure buy some seeds. Would prefer it to be hardy to my zone though. Will it grow in a large pot? I'm full of questions. Really like this plant. Thanks for your help.

I believe its only hardy down to 8 planted in the ground, You can keep them trimmed back, so if you had a large pot to accomidate it to get to 4'x4' I think that would work. You don't have to buy seeds if you have something to trade!!! I actually am almost out of them, but I could send you a seedling in the spring if you like? They bloom first year most times, with proper watering and fertilizer (though they are drought tolerant!!) they thrive with care! Let me know!

Katrina

Brugie,

check this out ... http://plantsdatabase.com/go/2120/ it is the same family, they do go dormant in the winter time. am not sure about the specie though :(, as i have not grown it yet. i got some seeds Aimée gave me last year.

Brugie, yes, it will grow in large pots. A man in Mississippi grew some from seed, which he collected in a desert in California while visiting his brother. He babies them by keeping them in pots and taking them into the greenhouse every winter. In Austin, Texas and here, 20 miles north of Austin, they are growing along the sidewalk in several spots, and many businesses plant them in elaborate landscaping. I don't think they would be hardy in your winters, as they are tropicals. But pots, yes. They are also known as Pride of Barbados.

I have grown them from seed, although not under ideal conditions because of health problems forcing me to neglect things at times. They actually took from a month to several months to germinate. I think you could use the paper towel method, then carefully plant them in 10" pots, where they would be fine for at least a year. It will take several years for them to reach maturity and bloom, but then they put on a show all summer. They are cut back severely in winter at one nursery in Austin, but some in Georgetown are just left to fend for themselves next to a sidewalk, and they thrive. I do love this plant. There is a very similar one with a yellow bloom. MaVie Rose was growing some, and sent me two but I lost them to grasshoppers and heat when I was ill. I have a few seeds to share if you want to try.

Aimee, yours aren't blooming for several years? I plant mine early spring and get a few blooms the first year at the end of summer. I got my seeds from a lady who lives close to me who has them bordering her property and they are so beautiful when in bloom. I haven't seen them anywhere else in the area at all. I actually looked to see if nurseries sell them here in Florida and didn't locate any. I grow these for myself and friends, not to sell, maybe one day! I just can't seem to get enough right now though! I wouldn't mind some of the yellow seeds if you would like to trade for seedlings of the red or maybe something else I have? Let me know

Katrina

Thanks to you all. Aimee, I'd love to try a couple of the seeds. Is there anything that you are looking for. I probably wouldn't have it, but could run something down for you. I'll email you.

Shirley

Plantsdirect, I'd love a plant in the spring. I'm not really good starting things from seed, but will give it a try. If they make it I'll let you know so someone else can have the seedling. You are all so nice to offer. This just looks like such a show stopper.

MaVie did you catch any seed from yours? That is a very pretty color too.

This message was edited Sunday, Dec 8th 9:11 PM

That will work, just remind me in spring, my memories not very good haha! Good luck with your seeds :)

Katrina

Oh I also soaked mine overnight before planting and they germinated in about 10-14 days at about 70deg

i got some plants growing wild here, of the yellow variety, i can send one each for u and Aimée. sometimes, in Spring 03??? is that suitable???

Yes that would be lovely, what would you like in return???


Katrina

Me too MVR?????

Katrina, I'll try to remember. Not to good at it these days. Thanks for the germinating info too.

Yes Brugie :)! ok, do i get this right? one for Katrina, one for Aimée, and one for Brugie! Spring of 2003!!!

Katrina, just like Brugie, i never have any luck with seeds. i will trade u a 1' tall for one PULCHERRIMA plant.

Most of my seedlings are about 4-6" right now but by spring they should be a foot!!! That will work. My germination rate was really low on what i started I started about 100 seeds and only about 30 of them came up.... I started them in a big flat not in individual pots and then moved them to 1 gallon which is where they are now in the greenhouse!

Katrina

Hello: I recently moved from Peoria AZ to SLC UT, and I miss my plants, particularly my mexican bird of paridise. In my current home I understand that temps can get down to 0 F. and I understand that this particular plant is hardy to 10 F. Is there anything I can do short of keeping it in a pot and moving it indoors during the winter? We tried to bring some seeds with us, but I dont think we let them fully mature as none of them worked, so any advice / starters / seeds would be greatly appreciated.

MaVieRose and PlantsDirect: if you don't mind including me in your offer to trade for these seed, about the only thing I have at the moment are seeds for dwarf poinciana and HOPEFULLY soon will have Royal Poinciana seed. Both are presently blooming and making more seed. I'm just not sure about the Royal as it is it's first year to flower and produce seed. The plants you offer are so similar to these as to be startling. There is a yellow variety of the dwarf poinciana in Texas which locals refer to as Texas Bird of Paradise - are they the same? Also there is a 'Blue' (actually more purple) dwarf poinciana popularly called Bahamian Poinciana. I do not have seeds for these later two however. defjef

I don't have any sseeds this year yet, they are flowering but no seed pods to be seen yet. I will post again when I see that there are pods forming again. Last years I planted all, and only have about 5 survivers left (seedlings) from last year due to my move and not keeping up with watering the old stuff :( Hopefully these 5 babies will grow and prosper so I will have lots of seeds for trade. I believe the lady that I got them from before will still be willing to share I hope! Will ask her soon :) And then post when i get them!

Katrina

Do you happen to have any seeds from this plant?

Plantsdirect & MaVieRose:

It's very kind of you to share, I would love to have a seedling of your plant. I can mail you the postage or I can trade you for plants I own. Please email me with your wishlist or I can provide you with a list of my plants available for trades.

I planted a mexican bird of paradise in late Nov. 03, we got a slight freeze shortly thereafter, I am wondering if it will come back this spring , it had a good root system. I bought it from a reputable nursery.

Thanks,
Joydee

I just got some seeds and they were a breeze to start. I started one group in a 12" pot putting it in a plastic bag until germinated. The other group was started in the compressed peat "pots" you can gt at any garden center.

They germinated in less than a week in both cases!

Ken