Caesalpinia pulcherrima: Dwarf Poinciana

Introduction

Brilliant scarlet and yellow flowers, feathery foliage, and quick growth make dwarf poinciana a popular evergreen shrub. It is hard to find a more attractive flower. Also known as Barbados flower fence, this open-branched, fine-textured shrub will tolerate hot, dry areas, and forms an effective thorny barrier. It flowers year-round with peak displays in spring and fall.

General Information

Scientific name: Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Pronunciation: sez-al-PIN-ee-uh pul-KAIR-ih-muh

Common name(s): Dwarf poinciana, Barbados flower fence

Family: Leguminosae

USDA hardiness zones: 9B through 11 (Fig. 2)

Origin: not native to North America

Uses: reclamation; specimen

Availability: somewhat available, may have to go out of the region to find the tree

Description

Height: 8 to 12 feet

Spread: 10 to 12 feet

Crown uniformity: irregular

Crown shape: round

Crown density: moderate

Growth rate: fast

Texture: fine

Foliage

Leaf arrangement: opposite/subopposite (Fig. 3)

Leaf type: bipinnately compound, even-pinnately compound

Leaf margin: entire

Leaf shape: oblong, elliptic (oval)

Leaf venation: reticulate, pinnate

Leaf type and persistence: evergreen

Leaf blade length: less than 2 inches

Leaf color: green

Fall color: no color change

Fall characteristic: not showy

Flower

Flower color: red, yellow, orange

Flower characteristics: very showy

Fruit

Fruit shape: pod or pod-like

Fruit length: 3 to 6 inches

Fruit covering: dry or hard

Fruit color: brown

Fruit characteristics: does not attract wildlife; not showy; fruit/leaves not a litter problem

Trunk and Branches

Trunk/bark/branches: branches droop; not showy; typically multi-trunked; no thorns

Pruning requirement: needed for strong structure

Breakage: susceptible to breakage

Current year twig color: green, brown

Current year twig thickness: thick

Wood specific gravity: unknown

Culture

Light requirement: full sun, partial sun or partial shade

Soil tolerances: clay; sand; loam; acidic; alkaline; well-drained

Drought tolerance: high

Aerosol salt tolerance: moderate

Other

Roots: not a problem

Winter interest: yes

Outstanding tree: no

Invasive potential: little invasive potential

Ozone sensitivity: unknown

Verticillium wilt susceptibility: unknown

Pest resistance: resistant to pests/diseases

Use and Management

Full sun is preferred for best flowering, but some shade is tolerated. Any soil is suitable as long as it is well drained. Dwarf poinciana is perfectly suited to informal plantings. This is a beautiful, refreshing addition to any garden or yard as a specimen or as an accent toward the middle or back of a shrub border. Tipping the branches during the growing season creates a fuller shrub and more flowers. With some training and pruning, you can create a small, 12- to 15-foot tall multi-stemmed tree, but the natural form is a low-branched, full, wide-spreading shrub about 10-feet tall and wide. Allow plenty of room for this plant to develop as a shrub.

Propagation is by seed, which germinate faster if scarified or soaked in hot water.

Pests

Scale will present an occasional problem.

Diseases

Dwarf Poinciana is susceptible to mushroom root rot, especially in poorly drained soil.