Erythrina Crista-galli

This is my Erythrina seedling that is only about 8-10 weeks old, grown from seed sown around the beginning of June and it is already around 3ft tall and growing very strongly :thumb:

Anyone else grown these wonderful shrubs?, I grew one from seed about 10 years ago and got it to flower in its second year, so fingers crossed for next year :thumb:

 

They do gallop away dont they Bilbo.

Hope to get some pics in a while, I have one with 5 flower spikes just opening.

 

What a lovely plant Bilbo. Whilst I have heard of it, I have never looked into it before.

I know it needs to be frost free over winter, but otherwise is it any more difficult than other tender plants, such as Brugs, Cannas etc?

 

Hi Peter, the one I grew a few years ago was kept in a pot of around 10lt, it seemed to like being slightly on the root bound side of things, as you say I kept it frost free in the winter and when the growth started in the spring I simply pruned back to a healthy bud on each stem, just to remove dead wood really.

It was kept in the greenhouse until warm weather in mid-late May and then put outside in athe sunniest spot in the garden, watering wise, well I just let it 'almost' dry out between waterings and that was it really. In its second year it had 3 lots of flowers and they were stunning. It went on to flower each year from then until it unfortunately met with council workmen who dropped something on it and split it in two

This is the first one I've grown since then, easy from seed and quick to reach flowering size, well worth a go :thumb:

Oh just watch out for the wicked hooked thorns on the underside of the leaf stems.....:D

 

Thanks Bilbo - sounds like one to put on my shopping list.

 

Many thanks, I had not realised this, but have just tried it and found it rather useful.

 

No, but it is in the plans...


pic source: trees.stanford.edu and
www.tropical-plants-flowers-and-decor.com

 

I think we had this on a thread a while back where I put a pic up of one I had which flowered six months from seed. They rarely flower well outside unless in a warm region such as the South East along with Albizias and Caesalpinias. Which is why Pete has more success than I do.

 

Very tempting Bilbo,but I am trying to reduce plants not gain them ..
Wonderful plant though .
May I ask where did you get the seed ?

Dave

 

I got some seed from Chiltern Seeds the first time a number of years ago, but these ones were from Ebay at a very reasonable price too :thumb:

 

My original plant flowered well outside for a number of years and that was in Cheshire; it was though in a really good 'sun trap' :thumb:

 

Took these this evening, first flower spike opening.


A few more yet to come.

 

Bilbo, you are more fortunate than me then as three flowers were all mine were capable of in any year. Even here the winters cut them down to the ground and never really recovered.

Pete, looking good, how did it take last winter?

 

In the garage strongy:D.
Almost bone dry.

I thought it was dead as it took well into May before re shooting, even in the greenhouse.

It died right back to the rootstock last winter.

I did have a plant grown from a seed sent to me by Miraflores some years ago, I'm sure it was lysistemon, more treelike and less shrubby.

Well I lost it a couple of winters ago, I think it just got too cold and it was fairly wet when I brought it under cover that year.
I thought this had gone the same way.

 

Is it in a pot or do you plant it and lift it?