If you want a real eye-catcher in your garden, you should opt for a coral bush. We present the most beautiful varieties to you here.
The coral shrub (botanical Erythrina) is increasingly conquering a place in the home garden as a container plant. No wonder, because the shrub with the pinnate leaves and the large, magnificent flowers is a real eye-catcher.
Coral shrubs are found naturally in South and Central America, India and the Caribbean. Most varieties are not hardy and quite sensitive to frost. In a bright and cool room, however, they can easily overwinter. You can enjoy a coral shrub or coral tree for many years when the beautiful flowers open in summer. We would like to introduce you to the most beautiful varieties for the garden and terrace in more detail.
❶ The most common variety: Erythrina crista-galli with fiery red, showy flowers
When people talk about coral shrubs, they usually mean the variety Erythrina crista-galli. Erythrina is the botanical name and means "red" in translation. The name suffix means "cockscomb" and is actually reminiscent of the eye-catching decoration of the rooster. The flower clusters are 20 to 25 centimeters long and flaming red. The individual flowers are up to five centimeters wide.
❷ Erythrina corallodendron: Red flowers and coral-like seeds
The Erythrina corallodendron plant has large and tubular salmon pink to red flowers. After flowering, stable and elongated seed bodies are formed that look like coral. In the homeland of Central America, the locals process the seeds into necklaces.
❸ Erythrina caffra: flower with bizarre flower shape
The variety Erythrina caffra comes from South Africa. The flower shape is bizarre, the flower color is orange, light red or reddish brown. The wood of the tree is soft and light - this property is highly valued in the homeland of the shrub. Canoes, for example, are made from the wood of Erythrina caffra. But it is also suitable for carving musical instruments.
❹ The Indian coral tree: colorful from white to light green to red
DenIndian coral tree is available under the name Erythrina variegata. With the addition "alba", the shrub bears impressive white flowers. The sub-variety 'Orientalis' has white flowers with yellow or light green leaf veins. The sub-variety "Tropical Coral" surprises with red flowers.
❺ Hardy and colourful: the dwarf coral shrub
The dwarf coral shrub (Erythrina acanthocarpa) stays small. It is the only coral shrub that is hardy. The multicolored flowers are particularly beautiful. They ignite a real firework display. The flowers are in dense clusters on the branches. They are red with yellow-green tips.
❻ Compacta: the bushy coral bush
The "Compacta" variety is also small, but not hardy. The shrub grows stocky and bushy.