Coral bean is showy, colorful tree

Sep 6, 2023 By SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION 1 min read

Coral bean (Erythrina herbacea) is a multi-trunk tree that grows about 15 feet high. The leaves fall off in the winter and return in early spring, along with a showy spike of red tubular flowers. Coral bean leaves have two lobs that come to a point in the middle and seem to come in sets of three on a single long petiole. The seed pods are about 4 inches long and open to bright red with red seeds. The tree sometimes forms a wide base or stump at ground level. It grows best in full sun to part shade and in moist soils. It can handle salt spray but not saltwater.

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