Erythrina x sykseii
Coral Tree
A large deciduous tree offering dense shade in summer and showy orange-red flowers for late winter/early spring.
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| Features: |
Striking orange-red flowers in late winter/early spring. Dense shade and bright green foliage for summer. Fast-growing. Hardy. Low water needs. Bird attractant. |
| Applications: |
Shade and feature tree for parks, golf courses, avenue plantings and adjacent to houses on larger properties. |
| Description |
Perhaps an under-utilised tree, the Coral tree is a familiar sight on older rural properties and adjacent to farmhouses throughout the southwest. Its canopy of striking bright green leaves offers a dense cooling shade through summer, particularly when planted in adjacent numbers, so can aid gardeners to maintain their gardens below (apparently variants are used to aid commercial crops in this way overseas). The leaf-fall generally happens in a defined period and the striking coral flowers that follow bring welcome colour to the end of winter and attract birds. Large multiple branches usually stem from two metres up the trunk, creating a dense canopy above head-height with attractive bark. Older trees may lift lawn and pavement near their base so allow for a suitable perimeter. Some trees have been known to be susceptible to branch failure in high winds - lack of pruning can create the weight and 'sail' of such branches - but the Torbay Treefarmers stock is grown from cuttings of older, proven trees. Allocate sufficient space for this tree so that it can grow unimpeded. |
| Availability: |
Torbay, Champion Lakes : 100L, 200L, 300L, 500L |
| Mature height: |
10-20 |
| Mature spread: |
8-12 |
| Canopy: |
Dense, loosely symmetrical dome. Dense shade (seasonal). |
| Growth rate: |
Moderate to Fast |
| Cautions: |
Can grow to be large. Limbs may fail in high winds where inadequately pruned or maintained. Upper branches are lightly thorned. Older trees may lift pavements. The seeds of some Erythrina varieties contain toxins. |
| Tolerances: |
Hardy. Tolerates most soils. Tolerates heat. |
| Sun demands: |
Enjoys full sun |
| Soil demands: |
Tolerates a variety of well-drained soils. |
| Water demands: |
Low |
| WA Waterwise |
Visit Website |
| Native or Exotic: |
Exotic |
| Leaf habit: |
Deciduous |
| Family: |
Fabaceae |
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Additional references and recommended reading:
Boland, D. J. et al (2006) "Forest Trees of Australia" 5th Edition, Australia: CSIRO Publishing.
Gilman, Edward F. (1997) "Trees for Urban and Suburban Landscapes", Florida: Delmar Cengage Learning.
Lorenz von Ehren "Von Ehren Manual" 2nd Edition, Hamburg.
Rushforth, K. (2001) "Easy Tree Guide, Britain and Europe", London: Aurum Press.
Urban Forests Ecosystems Institute, "SelecTree - A Tree Selection Guide" retrieved from http://selectree.calpoly.edu/treelist.lasso 2009.
Disclaimer:
Torbay Treefarmers makes all information on this website available in good faith to customers, based on experience, general knowledge and research and in so doing, makes no guarantee in any way about the accuracy or usefulness of this information, nor is any warranty made or inferred by the supply of this information, nor can Torbay Treefarmers be held responsible or accountable for any loss, harm or damage that may arise from the use or availability of any information on this website.
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