Red bird of paradise
Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Sw.
Also called red bird of paradise, pride of Barbados.
Fern-leaved desert shrub with spectacular orange-red flower clusters all summer, at its best in the hottest exposures.
Size over time
Typical landscape size 1.8–3 m (6–10 ft) tall and 1.8–3 m (6–10 ft) wide; fast growth, about 4 years to maturity. Intermediate sizes use the planner’s growth curve (k = 0.45) from the #3 install size.
Bloom
Orange-red flowers, May–Oct (northern-hemisphere months; timing shifts with region and season).
| Plant | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Red bird of paradise : May–Oct |
Design notes
- Cut to 30–45 cm in late winter; it returns quickly.
- Seeds are toxic if eaten; small prickles on stems.
Regions
Native range: Tropical America (cultivated origin).
Not recorded as native to any of the three pilot regions.
Native status describes where the species occurs naturally. It is not a promise that it suits a particular garden; site conditions decide that.
Related plants
Plan with Red bird of paradise
Place it in a design, check it against your zone, light and moisture, and see it at year three and year ten.