Erythrina crista-galli - Cockspur Coral Tree, Cock´s Comb Coral Tree

The Cockspur Coral Tree (Erythrina crista-galli) is the national flower of Argentina. During summer, a firework of fire-red, butterfly- shaped flowers in 20 to 25 cm long clusters opens up at the branches’ tip, giving the tree its botanical name crista-galli = cock’s comb/ cockspur. As the tree gets older, it gets a big, gnarled trunk with a deeply textured bark that resembles that of an old grapevine. The branches sprouting from dormant buds in the trunk grow longer and longer during summer and bend elegantly. In autumn and late autumn the shoots drop the three- pinnate, thorny leaves and dry out- regardless of site and care. As a winter quater, a dark and just about frost-free room will be sufficient for these modest shrubs that hardly need space. These South American plants can grow very old and be handed from generation to generation provided that the soil does not dry out completely over winter. Always care for a basic moisture in soil.

Quality: fire-red & very big clusters of flowers; gnarled trunk & bend tips of branches; can be wintered in a dark place
Use: in pots from April to October outside on balcony, terrace and in the garden - during winter indoor; all-year in a mederately or sporadically heated greenhouse