Botanical Name: Erythrina humeana
Common Name: Natal coral tree
Type of Plant: dicot: tree
Character deciduous
 
Habit of Growth:
Overall Shape a multi-trunked, shrubby plant, with vigorous growth of sturdy, thorny branches forming a dense rounded canopy; younger stems are green, older branches grayish
Height 15'-25' (30')
Spread equal or more
Growth Rate rapid
 
Environment:
Exposure outdoors full or partial sun
Soil prefers moist, well-draining soils
Hardiness some frost (zones 12, 13, 20-24): flowers are easily damaged by frost
 
Morphology:
Leaves trifoliate, alternate, 6"-14" long; leaflets are dark green, deltoid-ovate, 2"-5" long, on thorny 4"-8" long petioles
Flowers bright orange red, flattened-tubular, each 1"-1 1/2" long; in mostly 6"-12" spikes on branch tips; fall-winter
Fruit a pod; mostly 2-valved, 3"-5" long
 
Propagation:
seed
 
Usage:
an accent tree, used for its branch structure and flowers; not as prolific a flower producer or having as well-defined shape as some of the other Erythrina species; suitable for tropical-subtropical landscapes
 
Landscape Care:
Watering regular is preferred; can tolerate short periods of drought after established
Fertilizing balanced, in spring; check for iron chlorosis in heavily watered soils
Pruning severely head back and thin out canopy (late winter), develop main scaffold structure branch structure; head back to 3-6 buds
Pests/Diseases relatively free
Special Conditions/Other
 
Origin: South Africa
Family: Fabaceae

Notes:
 
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