Caesalpinia pulcherrima

RHS Plant Profile
Barbados pride

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Barbados pride RHS

Other common names

Barbados flower fence, dwarf poinciana, flamboyant tree, paradise flower, peacock flower, Spanish carnation

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An upright evergreen thorny shrub or small tree with feathery foliage to 4m high and wide, bearing very showy red and yellow flowers through the most of the year, but peaking in the spring and autumn

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Chalk, Loam, Sand

Max Height

2.5-4 metres

Max Spread

2.5-4 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
10–20 years
Max Spread
2.5-4 metres
Max Height
2.5-4 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
West–facing or South–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H3

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Fabaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Evergreen
Habit
Bushy
Genus
Caesalpinia can be shrubs, trees or climbing shrubs with evergreen, 2-pinnate leaves and terminal panicles or racemes of 5-petalled flowers with protruding stamens
Name Status
Correct
Plant Range
Trop. America

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow outdoors in full sun in a frost-free area in moist but well-drained soil. Under glass grow in peat-free, loam-based compost in full light. Plants under glass may need a restrictive prune after the first flush of flowers. In hot climates it is tolerant of dry areas where it can be grown out of doors, providing a dense thorny barrier

Propagation

Propagate by seed or softwood cuttings

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • City and courtyard gardens
  • Patio and container plants
  • Architectural
  • Cut flowers
  • Wall side borders

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to glasshouse red spider mite, glasshouse whitefly and mealybugs

Diseases

May be susceptible to honey fungus (rarely)