Grow a coral tree in full sun and soil that drains. Coral tree is Erythrina. Coral bean is the southeastern kind that dies back after frost. Coral bells are a different plant.
Give it full sun and soil that drains
| Factor | Recommended | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Sun | Full sun for a landscape tree; coral bean can take part sun | Do not site it in deep shade |
| Soil | Garden soil that drains after rain | Do not plant it in a bog |
| Water | Water a new plant through the first season, then water less often | Do not keep the roots in standing water |
| Feed | Little or none | Do not dump nitrogen that makes weak, fast wood |
| Thorns | Keep thorny kinds off walks, doors, and play areas | Do not plant a thorny stem over a path |
A coral tree wants full sun and soil that dries after rain. Water a new plant through the first season. Once the roots take, water less often. Extra fertilizer and extra water push soft wood that snaps in wind. [1] [2] naked coral tree wants that same drain. Coral bean takes some shade and still needs soil that dries between rains — pick the kind on Types of Erythrina.
Does a coral tree need full sun?
Full sun is the rule. A half day of sun can work for coral bean. Do not site a landscape tree in deep shade.
How often should I water a coral tree?
Water a new plant until it roots. After that, water when the top is dry. Do not leave the roots in standing water.
Plant after frost, with room for the mature plant
Plant after the last frost, while the soil is warm enough for new roots. Set the crown even with the surrounding soil. Measure spacing to the mature size on the tag — a Mexican tree and a coral bean do not share one footprint. [3]
- Plant after the last frost. A nursery pot is the usual start. Tease circling roots if the pot is bound.
- Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and a little wider. Set the crown even with the surrounding soil.
- Leave room for the mature plant on the tag. Backfill, firm, and water in once.
- Keep the first season watered. Do not skip that because the plant is drought-tolerant later.
When should I plant a coral tree?
After the last frost, when the soil is workable. Do not plant into cold, wet ground.
How far apart should I plant a coral tree?
Measure to the mature plant on the tag. A landscape tree needs a wide opening. A coral bean needs a shrub's room, not a street-tree pit.
Cut frost-killed wood in spring
Wait until new growth shows so you can tell live wood from frost-killed stems. Cut the dead wood back to live tissue. Wear gloves. The stems and often the leaf stalks carry thorns. [4]
- Wait until new green shows in spring.
- Cut frost-killed stems back to live wood. Wear gloves.
- Haul the dead stems off so the new growth is not shaded by last year's wood.
- If the plant blooms on this year's wood, cut spent flower spikes after they fade if you want another flush. Do not cut a leafless-bloom tree back hard just before it flowers.
When should I prune a coral tree?
After new growth shows in spring, so you can see what froze. Do not cut before you can tell live wood from dead wood.
Not coral bells — and not a flame tree
Coral bells are Heuchera, a shade foliage perennial — see How to Grow Coral Bells. Those mounds are not a coral tree. A flame tree in search is usually royal poinciana, not this genus. Cockspur hawthorn is Crataegus — see How to Grow Hawthorn. Cardinal flower is Lobelia — see How to Grow Lobelia. Confirm the Latin on the tag.
Is a coral tree the same as coral bells?
No. Coral tree is Erythrina. Coral bells are Heuchera. They are not interchangeable plants.
How to start coral bean from seed or a cutting
A nursery plant is the faster start. The hard red seeds will sprout after you scratch the coat. Keep those seeds away from children.
- Collect pods when they split and turn dark. The seeds are toxic if eaten — store them out of reach.
- Scratch or file the hard coat, then soak the seed in warm water before a spring sowing.
- Sow after frost in a mix that drains. Keep it barely moist until it sprouts.
- Or take a semi-hardwood cutting in midsummer to early fall and stick it in a mix that drains.
Can I grow coral bean from seed?
Yes. Scratch the hard coat, soak the seed, and sow after frost in a mix that drains. A semi-hardwood cutting also works. Keep the red seeds away from children.
If the tree sat wet and the wood is spongy, move it onto ground that drains — do not add more water.
FAQ
Can I grow a coral tree in a pot?
A large draining pot can hold a young plant or a coral bean on a patio. Water when the top is dry. The usual landscape tree belongs in the ground, where the roots can run.
Are coral tree seeds poisonous?
Yes. The red seeds are toxic if eaten. Keep children and pets from chewing pods or seeds.
Can I plant a coral tree by the coast?
Naked coral tree and coral bean take some salt spray. Do not assume every kind is a beach tree. Soil still has to drain.
Related guides
Recommended plants
References
- [1] Clemson Cooperative Extension HGIC -
https://hgic.clemson.edu/hummingbird-favorite-coral-bean/ - [2] Gardening Know How -
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/ornamental/trees/coral-tree/coral-tree-information.htm - [3] Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center -
https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=erhe4 - [4] San Marcos Growers -
https://www.smgrowers.com/info/erythrina.asp
This note is part of Erythrina Guides.
More first-season notes by plant are gathered in How to Grow Guides.
Updated: Reviewed by Bosquelle Editors