A deciduous shrub or tree with a unique habit all its own, the Cockspur Coral Tree can become a many-stemmed, rough-barked tree up to 25 feet tall with weeping branches and flower stalks. Its woody trunk and branches are very slow to develop. In colder areas, it will die to the ground and grow back each spring with fleshy new growth forming a mounding, drooping shrub. The flowers, first appearing in spring at the ends of the branches, are long velvety stalks of bird-like flowers, salmon pink to wine red in color. It can bloom up to three times during the growing season. Cut back dead flower stalks and stems to encourage more upright growth habit.
by weeds Jun 30, 2002 1:29 AM
I took this picture a La Reserva Costanera in Buenos Aires on a bike ride in December 2003. The tree is common in that area of Argentina and Uruguay. I read that it is the national flower of both countries.
by willbike Jan 13, 2004 7:02 PM
Brazilian Coral Tree flowers in a botanical garden in Bali, Indonesia, October 1990
by kennedyh Feb 5, 2004 11:30 PM
fireman's cap blooms in Needville,Tx. (30 miles SW of Houston)
by crd40 May 24, 2004 12:34 PM
Los Angeles arboretum in June
by palmbob Jun 17, 2004 4:09 PM
june flowers and leaves
by palmbob Jun 17, 2004 4:09 PM
June flower, Los Angeles
by palmbob Jun 17, 2004 4:09 PM
Genus: Erythrina Crista Galli -Barcelona Spring 2003
by mmsland Jul 29, 2004 8:33 AM
Also known as 'Mamou plant' in Cajun Country of LA. Do 'Mamou Plant' search for info.
by dalouv Aug 21, 2004 8:45 AM
Firey orange/red blooms which form beans with up to three seeds. Seeds germinate easily.
by busybee Aug 24, 2004 9:49 AM
pods in fall Los Angeles county
by palmbob Oct 23, 2004 9:13 AM
seeds in pod fall Los Angeles
by palmbob Oct 23, 2004 9:13 AM
seeds in hand- very hard, smooth and ornamental (and toxic)
by palmbob Oct 26, 2004 9:58 AM
Fireman's Cap tree cut to a bush
by ladyannne Nov 11, 2004 9:12 AM
Fireman's cap seed pods
by ladyannne Nov 11, 2004 9:12 AM
Fireman's Cap trunk
by ladyannne Nov 12, 2004 9:12 AM
Taken outside Woolmarketing Marlborough Nelson Blenheim NZ
by bootandall Jan 23, 2005 10:14 AM
Taken outside Woolmarketing Marlborough Nelson Blenheim NZ
by bootandall Jan 24, 2005 2:19 PM
my own seedling grown from seed off plant here in Los Angeles
by palmbob May 4, 2005 6:00 PM
Mine is presently almost seven feet tall. It bloomed last year and I am hoping for blooms again this year.
by rylaff May 5, 2005 11:43 AM
by rylaff Jun 3, 2005 10:59 PM
Small tree. Moreno, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
by Gustichock Apr 16, 2006 10:57 PM
great specimen growing in Disneyland, California, May
by palmbob May 25, 2006 4:43 PM
by RWhiz May 22, 2006 11:11 PM
Beautiful specimen in Tokyo.
by ddoudstone Jul 12, 2006 9:04 AM
by Bward May 13, 2007 3:27 AM
A small tree in Tangiers, Morocco. The poor thing was all mixed up with hedging shrubs and had only just "seen the light" when this picture was taken.
by careyjane Jul 16, 2007 3:08 AM
two year old seedling after flowering. survived a severe 20 degree freeze in Jan 07. z9b/10a CA
by jdiaz Nov 18, 2007 6:35 AM
Same seedling. the trunk is already getting large and bulbous
by jdiaz Nov 18, 2007 6:36 AM
our cockspur tree flowers in NSW Australia
by aussieangel Nov 21, 2007 5:15 AM
New spring on our cockspur tree in NSW Australia
by aussieangel Nov 21, 2007 5:21 AM
green seedpods. ready to harvest when totally brown
by vossner Jun 4, 2008 5:14 PM
Blooming late June. zone 9b/sunset 9 CA
by goldenstate Jul 12, 2008 3:31 AM
White flowered variety, E. crista-galli var. leucochlora
by popper1 Jul 2, 2009 3:00 AM
flowers on my own plant grown from seed collected in southern California just 7 years ago
by palmbob Jul 29, 2009 10:00 PM
Growing so happily in San Mateo, California.
by Kell Sep 9, 2009 5:49 PM
by Kell Sep 9, 2009 5:49 PM
by Kell Sep 9, 2009 5:49 PM
by Kell Sep 9, 2009 5:49 PM
At UC Botanical Gardens in Berkeley, CA.
by Calif_Sue Nov 9, 2009 10:48 PM
At UC Botanical Gardens in Berkeley, CA.
by Calif_Sue Nov 9, 2009 10:48 PM
At UC Berkeley Botanical Gardens. Must have had frost damage for full of dead limbs.
by Kell Nov 10, 2009 12:41 AM
University of California at Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden
by Kell Nov 10, 2009 12:41 AM
University of California at Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden
by Kell Nov 10, 2009 12:41 AM
by Kell Nov 10, 2009 12:41 AM
by Kell Nov 10, 2009 12:41 AM
University of California at Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden
by Kell Nov 10, 2009 12:41 AM
by Kell Nov 10, 2009 12:41 AM
University of California at Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden
by Kell Nov 10, 2009 12:41 AM
Erythrina crista-galli flowers
by 01_William Jun 27, 2010 3:15 AM
Erythrina crista-galli - Cockspur Coral Tree flower
by 01_William Aug 6, 2010 3:26 AM
Los Angeles, California
by growin Aug 13, 2011 3:27 PM
Los Angeles, California
by growin Aug 13, 2011 3:27 PM
University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley
by growin Sep 26, 2011 9:21 PM
Growing within 1km of Perth (Western Australia) CBD, 2010
by MargaretK Oct 28, 2011 7:04 AM
Photo taken within 1km of Perth (Western Australia) CBD, 2010
by MargaretK Oct 28, 2011 7:04 AM
Photo taken at Perth, Western Australia, 2010
by MargaretK Oct 28, 2011 7:04 AM
Photo taken within 1km of Perth (Western Australia) CBD, 2010
by MargaretK Oct 28, 2011 7:04 AM
my 8' tall tree grown from seed. This tree blooms about 10 months out of the year here in southern California. This is from late November
by palmbob Nov 27, 2011 5:25 PM
November seed pods southern California in my yard
by palmbob Nov 20, 2012 11:07 PM
On a country road north of Tauranga, New Zealand in late January
by RosinaBloom Feb 4, 2013 6:08 AM
Showing the thick trunk and bark
by RosinaBloom Feb 4, 2013 6:08 AM
The upper limbs, branches and leaves
by RosinaBloom Feb 4, 2013 6:08 AM
The bean-like seed pods
by RosinaBloom Feb 4, 2013 6:08 AM
The different stages of the coral coloured Cockspur flowers
by RosinaBloom Feb 3, 2013 8:35 PM
Sofia, Bulgaria, 2300 feet AMSL, zone 6b (admittedly). End of winter.
by purplesun Mar 3, 2013 6:46 AM
another shot of seeds from my own plant (I grew from seed)
by palmbob Oct 16, 2013 10:58 AM
New Zealand. Photo courtesy of Karl Gercens. Copyright Karl Gercens. Conservatory Horticulturist at Longwood Gardens. http://www.karlgercens.com/
by Kell Dec 27, 2015 12:49 AM
Photo courtesy of Ken Blackford. Copyright Ken Blackford. San Diego, Ca.
by Kell May 11, 2016 3:20 PM
Photo courtesy of Ken Blackford. Copyright Ken Blackford. San Diego, Ca.
by Kell May 11, 2016 3:21 PM
Grown from seed in Zwolle, the Netherlands in spring 2015.
by Davidboaz Jun 6, 2016 8:49 PM
University of California Botanical Garden at Berkeley. Copyright of Mark Delapine. Berkeley, California.
by Kell Aug 20, 2018 2:59 PM
Copyright Efeftherios Dariotis (Liberto Dario), horticulturist and botanist from Athens, Greece.
by Kell May 26, 2019 6:33 PM
