Erythrina crista-galli
“Fireman’s Cap”/“Cry Baby”

We received seed for this spectacular & showy tree from Eloise Bouye of Campbell, CA, who started her own from seed 25 years ago, which has been thriving ever since. A fast growing & undemanding beauty, it’s tolerant of heat & drought, & develops into a 20’ tall tree with a branching & wide habit. Gargantuan red pea-flowers in foot-long racemes appear over a long period in summer and make a car-stopping, hummingbird-happy show. Summer water will make for a nicer looking tree, but this species is actually DROUGHT TOLERANT, & can stand the heat to boot. Moderately frost sensitive, but I’ve seen enough Erythrinas growing happily around the bay that I know that it’s do-able, & have been impressed by their splendor enough to know it’s worth doing! In colder zones this species will sometimes freeze to the ground & return as a small shrub each year. Watch out for prickles! Deciduous in Winter.

Claire Woods