Coral Bean

Erythrina flabelliformis

G. Molina-P.

Plant Type(s)	Tree, shrub, perennial
Native to Arizona	Yes!
Water Needs	Low
Sun	Full sun, partial shade
Pollinators	Hummingbirds
Has Spines	Yes
Size In relative feet, width by height	4-8'+-4-8'
Freeze Tolerant	Yes
Flowering Season	May-July
Flower Color	Red
Minimum Temperature Range	20-25 °F
Leaf Description	Fan shaped leaves in pairs of 3.
Fruit	Legumes (beans) with bright red, poisonous seeds
View on SEINet	View SEINet Entry
Range Map	View SEINet Range Map
Elevation Range	3000-5500 ft.
Description	Coral bean is an unusual woody species which grows in the Sky Islands of southeastern Arizona. Plants are found in high desert scrub and grasslands above 4000 ft., especially on the rocky edges of drainages. Further south in Mexico these plants can become small trees, but in Arizona their size is limited by frost pruning. These plants can be tricky to cultivate due to their potential for rot. In the ground they would do well on a mound or in a rock garden, or they can be grown in containers in a cactus/succulent soil. Tubular red blooms appear in late spring before the 3-parted, heart-shaped leaves. Plants can form a caudex (engorged stem base) which looks interesting if exposed in a pot. Beans split to reveal bright red seeds, which can hang on the plant through the winter.