planting pride of barbados seed pods Pride of Barbados

planting pride of barbados seed pods Pride of BarbadosCaesalpinia pulcherrima Caesalpinia pulcherrima, affectionately known as the peacock flower or Barbados Pride, is a beautiful and fast growing shrub or small tree that can reach up to 10 feet when grown as a shrub or even 20 feet tall as a tree! Originating from tropical America, particularly the West Indies, its loved all over the world for its stunning long blooms of colorful flowers that appear in upright clusters on its prickly branches. The

Caesalpinia pulcherrima 

Caesalpinia pulcherrima, affectionately known as the peacock flower or Barbados Pride, is a beautiful and fast-growing shrub or small tree that can reach up to 10 feet when grown as a shrub or even 20 feet tall as a tree! Originating from tropical America, particularly the West Indies, it’s loved all over the world for its stunning long blooms of colorful flowers that appear in upright clusters on its prickly branches. The charming bowl-shaped flowers, with five petals each, bloom beautifully from spring through fall in clusters that range from 4 to 8 inches long and can boast up to 40 flowers in tropical areas. You’ll be captivated by the vibrant orange-yellow petals that contrast beautifully with the elongated dark red stamens. This lovely shrub is also known as dwarf poinciana because its flowers resemble those of the royal poinciana, albeit on a smaller scale.

The leaves are lush and feathery, displaying a twice-pinnate arrangement in a lovely green hue, although they may become deciduous at the edges of their growing range. Each leaf typically has 6 to 10 pairs of leaflets, with each leaflet featuring 5 to 8 smaller pinnae. After flowering, it produces striking oblong, flat seed pods that can grow 2.5 to 4 inches long, each containing 8 to 10 dark brown to black seeds that are ejected as the pods split open at maturity. The shrub is adorned with sharp prickles along its stems, which gives it the playful nickname of Barbados flower fence, as it’s often used in the West Indies as a flowering barrier. Interestingly, green seed pods are also enjoyed as a cooked delicacy in Mexico.

Thriving in full sun with medium moisture in fertile, well-drained soils, it’s perfect for USDA Zones 9-11 and shows good winter hardiness in these zones. The flowers shine brightest in full sun but can handle a little light shade too. Once established, this drought-tolerant beauty is easy to care for and can be shaped with pruning as needed. It typically withstands temperatures down to 30 degrees F and occasionally tolerates brief dips into the high 20s, showcasing its resilience.

Height: 10’-20'
Spread: 6’-10'
Bloom: Summer-Fall
Light: Full Sun
Water: Low
Zone: 9-11
Origin: Tropical Americas