Erythrina coralloides (Naked Coral Tree)

Noted for its four seasons of interest, Erythrina coralloides (Naked Coral Tree) is a small, deciduous tree with a low rounded canopy. Brilliant red flowers, resembling pinecones, bloom at the tips of its naked, twisted, black-thorned branches from early spring to early summer. At the end of the flowering season, the trifoliate leaves unfurl, providing shade in summer, then turn glorious shades of yellow in the fall. Then they drop, revealing the interesting branching pattern which is as magnificent as the floral display. Naked Coral Tree is an excellent ornamental flowering tree or shade tree. Its salt tolerance makes is well-suited to seaside gardens.

• Grows up to 20-30 ft. tall and wide (6-9 m).
• Easily grown in sandy, dry to medium, well-drained soils in full sun. Drought and salt tolerant.
• Great as a specimen plant in Mediterranean gardens, cottage gardens and containers.
• Virtually disease free and pest free. Keep an eye out for shot hole borer, aphids, sooty mold.
• Prune annually to prevent limb breakage.
• Propagate by softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings.
• The seeds are very poisonous, containing erythroidine, a powerful muscle relaxant; erythroresin, an emetic; coralin; and erythric acid. The extract has been suggested as a substitute for curare.
• Native to Mexico.