Wildflower Nursery

Indigenous Plants for a Sustainable Future

  • Home
  • About Us
    • Grassland Biome Experts
    • Who We Work With
    • Services and Products
    • Project Portfolio
  • Indigenous Library
  • Articles
  • e-Newsletter
  • Contact

Erythrina lysistemon

by Johan Wentzel

Erythrina lysistemon
Common Name
Coral tree
Plant Type
Tree
Erythrina lysistemon is spectacular when in bloom and would make a wonderful avenue tree alternated with Dombeya rotundifolia, flowering in early spring.
Plant Description

Erythrina lysistemon is a deciduous tree with an open but sparse roundish crown. This tree can reach a mature height of 6m when growing conditions are conducive. Its distribution stretches from Tanzania in the north to the Eastern Cape in the South. The Common coral tree can tolerate a wide range of attitudes and habitats.

Leaves of this tree are heart shaped with smooth margins. The bark is smooth on young branches becoming greenish pale grey-brown with maturity. Erythrina lysistemon flowers from June to October usually before new leaves appear. The flowers are bright red in colour and are carried in short, dense heads, about 9 cm long.  These flowers produce plenty of nectar that attracts nectar feeding birds and insects which in turn attract insect feeding birds as well. The pods are like a ‘string of beads’ and enclose red and black seeds, which are used in jewellery making.The trunk is thick with pale green grey grooves and random spiny prickles.  It often branches low down and the bark is dark grey to grey-brown with a smooth texture.

The trees shed their attractive autumn foliage to reveal a bare skeleton before the striking scarlet flowers cover the branches during winter to early spring.  The rosette shaped flowers explode into brilliant red and add a subtropical touch through the cool winter months.  The form and colour of these flowers are exquisite when used in floral arrangements.

Erythrina lysistemon is spectacular when in bloom and would make a wonderful avenue tree alternated with Dombeya rotundifolia, Plant Erythrina lysistemon in full sun or semi-shade. Plant in a protected spot where frost is experienced since it flowers on the previous season's growth.

The Erythrina lysistemon shows definitive seasonality in its foliage, flowers and seeds and heralds in spring with a blaze of colour.

You may find stock of this plant at Random Harvest.

Afrikaanse Naam
Koraalboom
Hardiness
Semi hardy
Position
Sun
Water Requirements
Water wise
Evergreen
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Fast
Flowering Time
Spring
Flower Colour
Red
Shape
Upright
Soil
Loam
Plant Size
5m
Region
Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal Midlands, Limpopo, North West
Habitat
Bushveld, Rocky outcrops
Grown by Wildflower Nursery
No

Contact Us

Johan – 082 801 1741
[email protected]

Annette – 082 908 6591
[email protected]

Subscribe to our Monthly e-Newsletter

* indicates required

Indigenous Plant Palette Selector

Use the Indigenous Plant Palette Selector to create a list of plants for your specific needs.

Search the Plant Database

Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in