Erythrina CRISTA-GALLI

Erythrina CRISTA-GALLI - Cockspur coral tree, Erythrina crista-galli, Coral tree 'Cock's Comb'.

Can be grown in bonsai style!

Erythrina is a genus of semi-deciduous shrubs and trees in the legume family (Fabaceae), uniting about 130 species. The native habitat of the plant is South Africa; today it is found in subtropical and tropical regions. It has achieved the greatest distribution in Eastern Bolivia, Africa, Argentina, Malaysia, Brazil, and Uruguay. Both original forms and all kinds of hybrids are cultivated.

Representatives of the genus are shrubs and trees with a broad crown, capable of growing from 0.8 to 30 m (2.6 to 98 ft) in height. In temperate climates, Erythrina can retain its leaves, while in cool conditions it sheds them. The stems are often covered with long, sharp prickles. The leaves are green, smooth, compound, each consisting of 3 oblong-elliptic leaflets 8–12 cm (3.1–4.7 in) long, slightly folded along the central vein. Most species bear large salmon-colored or red flowers gathered in terminal racemes. In some species, the flowers can be white, purple, green, yellow, or pink. Variegated cultivars exist, distinguished by contrasting veins.

Flowering often occurs even before the leaves appear. After flowering, large, up to 15 cm (6 in), lignifying curved legume pods form, containing one or more rounded pea-like seeds. The pubescent valves of the multi-seeded pod are flattened between the seeds. After opening, the seeds can be transported by the sea, for which they are called "sea beans". Erythrinas are very ornamental, bloom long and abundantly, and are valued for their magnificent flowers of whimsical shapes in attractive inflorescences.

Erythrina crista-galli is the best known and most widely distributed species. A small tree with irregular spiny branches on a woody trunk reaching no more than 50 cm (20 in) in diameter and 5-8 m (16-26 ft) in height. The root system is a taproot with root nodules. Flowering occurs in summer, from October to April in its native South America and from April to October in the Northern Hemisphere. Red flowers gathered in a raceme-type inflorescence are five-merous with bilateral symmetry. The fruit is a dry pod several centimeters (inches) long formed from a single carpel, containing 8-10 chestnut-brown bean-like seeds. The cotyledons remain underground until seed germination begins.

It propagates by seeds and cuttings. Seeds have a high germination rate and retain their viability for several years. Before sowing, scarification and soaking for 24 hours are recommended. Then the seeds are sown in loose substrate to a depth of 0.5–1 cm (0.2–0.4 in), moistened with a spray bottle, covered with film, and germinated at 22–25 °C (72–77 °F) in diffused light. Regular ventilation is required; drying out and overwatering must be avoided.

Seedlings appear within 10–20 days. The maximum germination period can exceed 40 days. After sprouts emerge, the cover is gradually removed, and pricking out is performed upon the appearance of the first true leaf. Young plants require bright lighting and careful watering.

© Greeniverse. All rights reserved.

During the warm season, the plant can be grown as a container garden crop, and kept indoors in winter. In mild climates, planting in open ground with shelter and pruning is permissible. Under temperate climate conditions, it is grown as a houseplant or balcony plant.

It prefers sunny, warm, wind-protected areas. In the summer, the plant can be kept outdoors, and during the winter period - in a cool room. The minimum winter maintenance temperature is about 7 °C (45 °F). At this time watering is minimal; in spring the plant is moved into warmth and returned to its regular care regimen.

For flowering, daylight hours of at least 9 hours are required. Temperature in summer is 24–26 °C (75–79 °F). Watering is regular in the warm season, and sparse in winter. Fertilizing during the period of growth and flowering is carried out every 2 weeks, especially with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers. In spring, pinching of shoots is possible. It is wonderfully suited for growing in bonsai style.