Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Red Bird-of-Paradise, Southwest Desert Flora

Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Red Bird-of-Paradise

Red Bird-of-Paradise flowers are showy large orange, red and yellow on an erect flowering stem known as a raceme. The flowers are considered to be among the most beautiful or pretty anywhere and the plants are called the Pride of Barbados where they are native. Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Red Bird-of-Paradise bloom from May to November and year-round in frost-free areas. The fruits are thin flat pods up to 3 or 4 inches long. Seeds are brown or black. The pods split open and the seeds are ejected at maturity. Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Red Bird-of-Paradise have green semi-evergreen leaves in frost-free areas. The leaves are compound; bipinnate (twice pinnate) and each leaf has 6 to 12 pair of “pinnae” and each pinnae with 6 to 12 pair of leaflets. Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Red Bird-of-Paradise have stems with sharp prickles that are more than just irritating! The plants are small trees or shrubs and often grow into a dense thorny (prickly) hedges which is also why they are sometimes called “Barbados Fenceposts”. Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Red Bird-of-Paradise is the National Flower of Barbados where it is called the Pride of Barbados and blooms year-round. In North America the plants are exotic found in Arizona, California, Florida and Texas. Beautiful plants! Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Scientific Name: Caesalpinia pulcherrima
Common Name: Red Bird-of-Paradise

Also Called: Barbados Fencepost, Dwarf Poinciana, Mexican Bird-of-Paradise, Peacock Flower, Poinciana, Pride-of-Barbados, Red Bird-of-Paradise; (Spanish: Barba del Sol, Tetezo, Flamboyant-de-Jardin, Flor de Camarón, Flos Pavonis, Tabachín, Tabaquín, Talcapache, -de Guacamaya).

Family: Fabaceae or Leguminosae Family

Synonyms: (Poinciana pulcherrima)

Status: Introduced and now Naturalized - escapee from cultivation. Originally from Mexico and the Caribbean.

Duration: Perennial

Size: 9 feet (2.7 m) or more (12 feet 3.6 m); taller in frost-free areas.

Growth Form: Shrub or small Tree; stems with sharp prickles; plants grow into dense thorny hedges giving rise to another common name Barbados Fencepost.

Leaves: Green; semi-evergreen in frost-free areas, compound, bipinnate (twice pinnate), each leaf has 6 to 12 pairs of pinnae and each with 8 to 12 pairs of leaflets.

Flower Color: Orange and/or red and/or yellow petals; flower inflorescence a raceme; fruit a thin flat pod up to 3 or 4 inches (7.6 or 10 cm) long, seed brown or black, pods split open and 8 to 10 dark brown or black seeds are ejected at maturity (dehiscent).

Flowering Season: May through November; year round in tropical areas.

Elevation: Up to 2,000 feet (610 m) - estimated, unknown.

Habitat Preferences: Unknown

Recorded Range: Red Bird-of-Paradise is an exotic that grows in the United States in : AZ, CA, FL and TX.

North America & US County Distribution Map for Caesalpinia pulcherrima.

North America species range map for Red Bird-of-Paradise, Caesalpinia pulcherrima:

Click image for full size map.

U.S. Weed Information: Unknown
Invasive/Noxious Weed Information: Unknown
Wetland Indicator: Unknown
Threatened/Endangered Information: Unknown

Genus Information: In North America there are 20 species for Caesalpinia, 15 species are native and 5 are Introduced. Worldwide, The Plant List includes 172 accepted species names for Caesalpinia. The genus Caesalpinia is named in honor of Andrea Cesalpini (1519-1603) of Italy. Mr. Cesalpino was first a botanist, but also a physician, philosopher and naturalist.

In the Southwestern United States Arizona has 7, California has 6, New Mexico has 5, Nevada has 2, Texas has 14and Utah has 3 species of Caesalpinia species of Caesalpinia. All data approximate and subject to revision.

Comments: Red Bird-of-Paradise is the National Flower of the Caribbean island of Barbados where it is called the Pride of Barbados and blooms year round.

The University of Arizona, Campus Arboretum web-page for Caesalpinia pulcherrima has excellent information here regarding the natural history and Ethnobotany of this species.

In Southwest Desert Flora also see Bird-of-Paradise Shrub, Caesalpinia gilliesii.

Importance to Wildlife, Birds and Livestock Caesalpinia pulcherrima has attractive flowers, the flowers, their seeds and plants may be visited by hummingbirds and/or small mammals including rodents and granivorous birds in search of food, nectar and protection through cover.

Beneficial Value to Butterflies, Honey Bees and Insects Caesalpinia pulcherrima has attractive flowers, the flowers and their plants may be visited or used by butterflies, moths, flies, honeybees, native bees and other insects in search of nectar, food or shelter and protection. Etymology: The genus “Caesalpinia” was published in 1753 Carl Linnaeus, (1707-1778). The genus Caesalpinia is named in honor of Andrea Cesalpini (1519-1603) of Italy. Mr. Cesalpino was first a botanist, but also a physician, philosopher and naturalist.

The species epithet “pulcherrima” from a Latin word "pulcher" which means “beauty” or “pretty”. Ethnobotany According to Dr. S. Allen Counter, professor of neurology and neurophysiology, Hartford Medical School, (here) Medicine Man, DaBuWan, in the Amazon rain forest, states that this plant "cures many things" and further that `The juice from the leaves cures fever, the juice from the flower cures sores, and the seeds cure bad cough, breathing difficulty, and chest pain."