When I was a kid, we called erythrina seeds "lucky beans" and we knew not to eat them (they're poisonous). But that was in South Africa, a place where erythrinas are supposed to grow. Now I want a lucky bean tree too!

(But then I want all sorts of S. African natives that I can't grow here in 7b Zebulon like olea europa sp. africana and celtis africana and acacias.)

Btw, I suppose seeing as I've emerged out of lurking, I should say "hi". Hi! :) I'm a displaced South African, and I've lived in NC for 4 years, but only just started gardening here this summer.

Well a great big Hi back at yah. There is a South African native growing here in 7b. I've got four good chances of starts of the erythrina crista-galli which from what I have been reading is one of the hardiest erythrinas. Dying back to the ground much like a baptisia in zone 7b. I probably should have included a link or two of images since the erythrina can be uniquely different in flower.

I would certainly be happy to share if I can get some germination on the seed, its supposed to be easy to propogate. We will see. Adele

I'm pretty sure I've read of Erythrinas growing in zone 7, maybe at PDN. I've always wanted to try one. I think E. crista-galli is native to South America, but there area other species around the world, including Africa, Australia, and even the southeast US.

PD sells a hybrd of Eryhtrina crista-galli and E. herbacea that is hardy.

I looked up coral bean in Passalong Plants because I remembered the story about how hard it was to dig one up. He talks about E. crista-galli as well as herbacea and says that it's called crybaby plant because the flowers drip nectar all summer. There's also a story that the flowers make a babydoll noise when squeezed.

Alicia, now I really have to try one. A plant that not only cries, it does it out loud.

Alicia, that hybrid is a cross between the native cherokee bean (E. herbacea) with the cry-baby (E. crista-galli) known as Hybrid Coral Tree (E. x bidwillii).

There is a tender erythrina that would be terrific to use here, Sunshine Tree (E. variegata var. variegata). It has yellow and green leaves with the typical red flowers. Although not hardy here in zone 7/8, it is a breeze to propagate and overwinter--cut off a 2-3' branch and stick it in soil and you have a newbie. Fast grower once you take it back outside to acclimate in mid April.

Most reference sources suggest that Erythrina crista-galli is better in zones 8 on up, but it probably can be overwintered if well mulched and given good drainage in winter. This species is South American, and is considered one of the hardiest large shrub/small tree species. Certainly summer heat will not phase this plant one bit, but it does like to grow along rivers and swamps in habitat, or it is best with summer water.

Is not Erythrina herbacea native in the Carolinas? It is certainly fairly common in the Gulf Coast states. If E. x bidwillii is hardy enough to be grown as a die back perennial in your area, this is in my opinion the most beautiful flowered of all the Erythrinas, and also loves the heat. It flowers beautifully here in the San Francisco Bay Area by the time it finally heats up in late summer, but is much more abundant in bloom in hotter inland valleys or southern California, where it can become a small tree.

I would guess that you probably won't have this plant get attacked by all the insects that destroy the flowers on Erythrina species in south Florida, as it doesn't sound like you have the critical mass of plants to attract the pest borers, beetles and caterpillars that can decimate them. We're lucky that way here in San Francisco as well, not enough of them in the landscape to keep the pests alive here year round. Some of the South African Erythrina species such as E. caffra and E. lysistemon are glorious down in southern California in mid winter bloom. We can also grow the Mexican E. coralloides here, which I also quite like, but it doesn't tend to bloom while deciduous or have the massively thick trunks of some of the South African species. Cool plants, and they all love hot summers, without any doubts.

Very interesting posts. Thanks for all your replies. I goggled the Erythrina herbacea, its a stunner and hardy to zone 6. I'm not quite sure which one I have but its not herbacea. The leaves are totally different. They actually reminded me more of a baptisia. I have the seed soaking in water now and will plant it tomorrow. I also have the cutting in water and will see if I can get it to root.

The plant that it came from I was told was quite impressive. Don't know if it was planted in a micro-climate or not but Sanford is definately 7b.

Can't wait to see if I can get one or two for my efforts. Adele

Erythrina herbacea is the one I have, or it is what mine looks like. I bring it in for the winter and I keep it in the pot in hopes of keeping it small.

The hybrid that PDN sells handles winter just fine and with last years temps it didn't even die back to the ground so this year it is extra big. There is one planted out at the fairgrounds in the tropical/oriental garden area that is massive. I took photos of it in full bloom this weekend. Beautiful flowers but a large sprawling plant. I think some of the branches reach outwards close to 12 feet!!!!! To big for my flowerbeds.