The Nature of Things

Hot colors dominate my July garden and none is hotter than Caesalpinia pulcherrima, 'Pride of Barbados'. The plant has several other popular names as well - Peacock Flower, Mexican Bird of Paradise, Dwarf Poinciana, Barbados Flowerfence, etc. - but Pride of Barbados is how it is commonly called in this area.  That name betrays its tropical origins. It is believed to be native to the West Indies and tropical America. It is widely cultivated and, since it reseeds prolifically, it has escaped cultivation and become established in tropical regions around the world. Its species name pulcherrima literally means "very pretty" and that is a fair description of this shrub's flowers. The plant has flower clusters that are more than a foot long and the blossoms develop slowly, over a period of weeks, starting at the bottom of the cluster and spreading all the way to the end. The flowers start as orange-red tinged with gold and, as they age, they become more orange, less go...

"Pride of Barbados" blooming in my back garden this week. Caesalpinia pulcherrima is its proper name, but it is better known by many more common monikers. Among these are Dwarf Flamboyan, Dwarf Poinciana, Mexican Bird of Paradise, Barbados Flowerfence, and Peacock Flower, but in this area it is best known as Pride of Barbados. It is possible that it did indeed originate in Barbados, but it is so widely naturalized in tropical and subtropical areas of the Americas that it is virtually impossible to be completely sure. What is certain is that it is a showy heat-loving plant that is a staple in the gardens of Southeast Texas. In my area, it is a returning perennial shrub that dies back to the roots in winter and comes back in spring. It can grow 5-8 feet in a season and sports its incredible orange-red to yellow flower clusters throughout the summer and into the fall. It is easy to grow in a variety of soils, from alkaline to acidic, as long as it is well drained. It is said to...