OT pics: Pride of Barbados

15 years ago

I found this sweet little tree at HD. I've had it for about a month. It brought back childhood memories of the mimosa tree we had in the front yard. This is a Pride of Barbados (Caesalpinia pulcherrima) and it has some delicate red and yellow blooms. It does produce the same sort of seed pods as the mimosa. It also has painless soft thorns.

Since I am new to this plant I can't tell you much other than the typical information you get on the plant tag. I did talk to a gentleman picking up a couple for himself and I asked him about them. He said he planted one last year and it did well. He didn't do anything special to it. It dies back in the winter but will come back in the spring. Said his neighbor has one that's about 8 ft tall. So it sounded like something I could maybe keep alive. LOL I have mine in a container because I have to be careful of roots around our pool. I figure I will over winterize it in the garage this year. I will keep it in a container for a couple of years to watch the root growth and if it isn't too aggressive I would like to plant it in the ground.

Some Information:

Grows 5' - 10'

Full sun and is drought resistant

Cold Hardiness: 10 - 20 F

Blooms through out the summer

And it attracts hummingbirds and butterflies

Here are some Pics:

{{gwi:555047}}

{{gwi:555048}}

{{gwi:555049}}

{{gwi:555050}}

{{gwi:555051}}

{{gwi:555052}}

{{gwi:555053}}

Pics of my first bloom

{{gwi:555054}}

{{gwi:554593}}

{{gwi:554595}}

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)
15 years ago
I love that plant. It is really drought tolerant and easy to grow and start from seed. In AZ we used to call it the Mexican Bird of Paradise.
karyn1
15 years ago
It's similar to the Royal Poincianna. It's smaller with somewhat different blooms but the foliage is the same. They are both beautiful trees.
Karyn
Related Discussions
ot:potd: here is what i got at my farmers market on saturday
Q
Comments (14)
those are some really neat shrubs! They are just barely starting to become popular here. There's a house down the street that has an enourmous clump of the yellow flowered variety. Two years ago, you could find one every once in a while in a nursery here and there. Now, the big box stores carry them by the hundreds and they're starting to be used a lot. I had two, but because of space issues gave the second one away. Mine is still in bud though.
...See More
OT: A peek into my Garden
Q
Comments (25)
Daniella Only somebody who lives in Jersey is allowed to call it crappy! Having been there many, many times, and having a sister in South Plainfield and a cousin in Cherry Hills, I would certainly disagree. Although the sight of the refineries on the turnpike could use some help! I think that the Heliconia are probably Andromeda. Many years ago, I helped a friend clear out an old garden bed, that was completely overrun with weeds and crappy (there's that word again!) looking plants. There were a few struggling Heliconia scattered about, so I brought home about 10 of them. In the ensuing years, I have, literally, pulled out thousands of them, to keep them under control. A closer look: This spring, I reduced the bed considerably, because it was so much work. I added a taller, clumping variety, that was labeled "Assorted Heliconia". Gotta love HD! Next, I would like to get a Hanging Lobster Claw. Just for the heck of it... Cordyline Red Sister and a Variegated Ginger: Deb, I hope this is not rude of me... to share my garden photos in your thread. I just get carried away. Mahalo, Bob
...See More
Cherry Barbados & Pride of Barbados
Q
Comments (13)
Hello new_in_texas: Thanks for the pictures, mine look exactly like yours except for two or three that are really taking off. The Red Bird of Paradise is one of the Pride of Barbados colors, that's the most common to acquire. The pink and yellow seem to be more expensive even just for the SEED. As far as your answer on 2 ft per year I'm looking at a long time before they mature then I suppose. I was planning on taking them out of the pots and planting them next Spring. Runjbells: Thanks for your response on the Cherry Barbados. It sounds like the same growth rate on the Pride of Barbados. As far as the winter, from what I understand they should resurrect come spring. I am growing my seedlings in the house until next spring so they get a good root base then I'll let them try to brave the winter next year. Did you just plant the seed in the ground? I tried putting a few seedlings outside but when two burned up from the heat I brought the survivor back in. It still hasn't fully recovered, I may lose it. Still on the learning curve on these and trying different things.
...See More
OT...God Bless America pic
Q
Comments (10)
Beautiful picture. We have several eagles in an open space near us, and a pure white falcon that hangs out at 2 of the golf courses we play. It is really something to see them in flight, but I have never gotten close enough to take a picture of the eagles like you did. Sure am glad the eagle is the American symbol and not the turkey like good ol' Ben wanted, LOL TFS, Candy
...See More
givelittle_getlots
15 years ago
Deb that's the one I have been eying at our little corner nursery. I wanted to go check out how much she sells it for. But every time I drive home I see it and it just pops in your eyes the flowers are so bright. HD here sold it for 19,95 I think.
I hope it will grow good for you and keep those childhood memories fresh.
And I LOVE the idea with the bricks as a planter. Very need.
But I really love your pool lol. I would trade that one and keep container growing too if I could lol.
Everythings looks like a nice place for you to relax.

Lucy
tropicgirl
Original Author
15 years ago
Wow, You all know your trees :)

SJN, you're right it is also known as the Mexican Bird of Paradise. :)

Karyn, you're right, the Royal Poinciana is like the Big Brother of the P.O.B aka: Mexican Bird of Paradise.

Here I thought I found a unique plant. ROFL :)

Lucy, If I get any seeds this year I will share :). HD sold this one at $15. We've had those leftover bricks for I don't know how many years and I decide to use them this year. I was just experimenting using them around the nursery pots. But hey, if they look good I may leave them there. The pool LOL yep, it's rather hard to take pics without getting the pool in there. It's right spack in the middle.

Deb
fool4flowers
15 years ago
Lucy the ones at the corner nursery were $19 I think. She gave me one for donating cat food to the cats since she always saw me eyeballing it, lol. I can spend the money to help her feed the stays she takes care of but not the money to buy the dang plant I wanted all week, lol. I love mine. They look great planted in the yard and will make a nice big bush.
givelittle_getlots
15 years ago
Thanks Deb I am not sure if I still going to get one or not. But the offer is sweet and very kind.

Kristy that is YOU lol. But you see, what goes around, comes around is true. You are such a giving thoughtful person, thinking of everybody else and taking care of them. But getting that pride of barbados plant gave you some back for your heart to be happy that you are such a selfless person.
Where did you plant it. If it gets so big. Oh that must look really beautiful.

WEll GOOD MORNING everybody :-)

and have a great day!

Lucy
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
15 years ago
I like 'Poinciana pulcherrima' and even grew some from seed one year. Got about 6 plants but they all died. I guess we got too much rain! They all rotted. These are very common in the Southwest (Phoenix), etc.
karyn1
15 years ago
Dave isn't that the same as the Pride of Barbados? My Royal Poinciana is doing well. I started it from seed almost 2 years ago and it's now about 3' tall. It hates being wintered over, even in the greenhouse but recovers when it goes back outside. I'm hoping that it will bloom in another two years. It's a pretty tree even without the flowers. Looks kind of like a mimosa.
Karyn
Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A
15 years ago
Poinciana pulcherrima = Pride of Barbados
threas
15 years ago
Very pretty, Deb!
Karyn, RP really takes that long to bloom? do all the above mentioned take years to bloom?

Theresa
karyn1
15 years ago
The ones that my aunt grew from seed only took about 5 years to bloom. That was in So. FL though. lol
Karyn

OT pics: Pride of Barbados

Comments (11)

sultry_jasmine_nights (Florida-9a-ish)

karyn1

Related Discussions

givelittle_getlots

tropicgirl
Original Author

fool4flowers

givelittle_getlots

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A

karyn1

Dave in NoVA • N. Virginia • zone 7A

threas

karyn1

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

OT pics: Pride of Barbados

Comments (11)

Related Discussions

tropicgirlOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

tropicgirl
Original Author