Erythrina fusca
Coral-bean · Purple coraltree · Swamp immortelle · Coral tree · Kaffirboom
Description
Source: leafsnapErythrina fusca is a species of flowering tree in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is known by many common names, including purple coraltree, gallito, bois immortelle, bucayo, and the more ambiguous "bucare" and "coral bean". E. fusca has the widest distribution of any Erythrina species; it is the only one found in both the New and Old World. It grows on coasts and along rivers in tropical Asia, Oceania, the Mascarene Islands, Madagascar, Africa, and the Neotropics.The easy-to-grow and attractive flowering tree is cultivated as an ornamental shade and hedge plant. It is a common shade tree in cacao plantations. It attracts hummingbirds, which pollinate its flowers. E. fusca is the official flower of the Venezuelan state of Trujillo.
Care Guide
💧 Water
☀️ Light Full sun
Bucayo comes from open habitats, such as sunny meadows and forest edges, which supply abundant light. It performs best in Full Sun but can also tolerate Partial Sun, adjusting well to different light levels.
🌡️ Temperature 20–37.8°C
Bucayo comes from tropical areas, where the climate is usually warm and humid. Consequently, it is well-suited to high heat and humidity. It does not tolerate abrupt temperature changes and prefers a steady thermal environment, so it is important to prevent temperature fluctuations indoors. It generally cannot endure cold conditions and needs warmer temperatures to grow. If the surrounding temperature falls too much, the plant may stop growing or even die.
💨 Humidity
🪴 Soil 6-7
🌱 Fertilizer
The best time to fertilize a Bucayo is in early spring, when it is coming out of dormancy. This encourages overall growth and the development of flowers. Fertilizing improves the foliage, stems, and branches, and promotes large, vibrant, long-lasting flowers. It also helps move nutrients from the roots to the flowers and boosts the plant's health and disease resistance.
🪴 Pot & Repot
✂️ Pruning
🌿 Propagating
🐛 Diseases & pets
☠️ Toxicity
Characteristics
- Plant Type
- Tree
- Life Cycle
- Perennial
- Genus
- Erythrina
- Family
- Fabaceae
- Hardiness Zone
- 10-12
- Mature Height
- 14.94 m to 24.99 m
- Mature Spread
- 10.06 m to 14.94 m
- Leaf Color
- Dark Green
- Leaf Type
- Deciduous
- Flower Size
- 5.08 cm to 6.35 cm
- Bloom Time
- Late spring, Summer, Early fall, Mid fall
- Planting Time
- Spring, Summer
- Harvest Time
- Fall, Early winter, Mid winter
- Native Area
- Colombia, Belize, Honduras, Guatemala, Bolivia, Venezuela, Peru, Guyana, Brazil, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Panama