Erythrina Species, Coral Tree, Bucayo

Another Erythrina species which is widely confused and misidentified. All the photos above do not show the real Erythrina fusca, but most...Read More show the orange/ yellow/ even cream form of Erythrina caffra, which is common in South California. Erythrina fusca is a true tropical tree, the range of which is strictly limited in the tropics and therefore it has no frost tolerance. It's natural range is tropical Americas, Asia and Australia and it is also introduced in tropical Africa. The wide natural distribution of the species is because the seeds float in water. The seeds have dark brown or black color and the leaves are glossy.

I wanted to buy this tree but I coudn't find any at my local nursery yet they had one growing near the parking area, so I asked if they h...Read Moread any. After hesitating, the nurseryman took me on a little cart ride out to their growing field. There were half a dozen or so to choose from. For some reason I liked the form of one without any leaves yet. I looked closely and you could see a bit of green on what looked like growth spurs. He checked the bottom and said a rootball had formed. I said, I am sure there is still a rootball in there even if it is not down to the bottom. I didn't notice his silence. So I bought it--5 gal. $18. When I went to plant it the stem slipped out clean as a whistle. Either there was not a root at all formed or they were so new they broke right off when I tried to get the plant out of the pot. So I thought, there was no rootball at all!( As there should have been if it had been transplanted from a 1 gal. pot) Hmmmm....they must propagate them from a branch. Doubtfully, I planted it and hoped it would root again if it ever had. For weeks it looked like a dead stick and I decided that once I was sure it was dead I would go out and buy a leafy one so my husband wouldn't notice I had paid $18 for a stick. Three weeks later, about two days ago, I checked it and there were still small flecks of green on the spurs. So I left it but could not tell at all if anything was growing. Then, today I looked at it again and it is beginning to leaf out. Amazing! I was totally surprised. Yes, a week ago or so I gave it some vitamen B for rooting and didn't water it unless I was sure it was getting dry by checking with my moisture meter. And it has been HOT 85-95ºF here in 10b San Diego County CA.

So, it seems that these can actually be propagated with hardwood cuttings. The stem of mine is one to one and quarter inches in diameter, yes diameter not circumfrence.

This tree has softish spongy wood and branches can fall and break quite easily in windy conditions. It has a very large spread and an umb...Read Morerella like shape at maturity. It should be given space in order to be appreciated at its best.
Short snubby thorns can be found on the trunk and larger branches.
Spring time bright orange-red flowers are spectacular silouhetted against the spring-blue sky.

Massive roots on these trees, tear up nearby streets and walkways, so careful when you plant it. Commonly planted around So Cal.