Erythrina zeyheri
“Plough Breaker”

flr photo: Gerda van Schalkwyk fol. photo: Frank Vincentz

My, oh my. Beautiful, regal & FIERCE! Well armed with thorns & prickles & with a huge underground rootstock that goes down a meter or more, this deciduous South African shrub hunkers back to the fortress of its enormous (plough breaking) roots every Winter, emerging with big, lush, evil looking leaves again in the Spring. Mid-Summer brings a long succession of red or coral orange spikes of blooms. Resist the urge to water too much – this species has plenty of water storage all on its own & doesn’t need much of your help. Grows 3’ tall & a little less wide. Okay in a pot for a little while, but the plant will likely let you know it wants a larger space by breaking the container if you give it a space that’s too small. If you plant it in the ground, don’t expect to be moving it... ever.

Claire Woods
Propagator