Mexican Bird Of Paradise
Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Pea Family: ( Fabaceae ), Red Bird Of Paradise; Sometimes called Mexican Bird of Paradise which is really the common name for the yellow variety, Caesalpinia mexicana. Also called Pride of Barbados.
A large irregular shrub which can be trained to become a small deciduous tree. It may become an evergreen in warmer areas. Attracts hummingbirds.
Height: Up To 6' - 15', they spread out 4' -6'.
Flowers: On branch terminals, informal racine of flowers which are red, orange and yellow with long red stamens; they bloom mainly in the spring and early summer, then sporadically; 4" -5" long
Blooming Time: March - September.
Fruit: Flat, 3-4" long, and when ripe they split open noisily to expose the little brown beans.
Leaves: Alternate bipinnately compound leaf. Eight to 14 inches long. With 3 to 9 pairs of pinnae and 7 to 15 pairs of leaflets.
Found: Native of Central America, Northwestern South America, West Indies.
Elevation: 0 - 2500 Feet.
Habitat: Mainly used for landscaping at lower elevations in Arizona.
Miscellaneous: Flowering Photos Taken June 6, 2005. Glendale.
