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Erythrina humeana (Natal Coral Tree) - A deciduous smaller coral tree that grows to 25 feet tall and uniquely produces its wands of scarlet red flowers en masse in late summer through fall, while most other coral trees flower in winter or spring.
Plant in full sun and give occasional deep watering. It is cold hardy to about 25 degrees F and can resprout from the base is hard wood is frozen. An attractive coral tree for coastal gardens where its fall flowers are particularly showy as they on inflorescences extend out and above foliage, making the flowers even more visible and these flowers attract nectar feeding birds.
Erythrina humeana is native to the Eastern Cape north along the coast into Mozambique. The name Erythrina is derived from the Greek word 'erythros' meaning "red" for the typical red flowers of the genus and the specific epithet honors the 2nd Baronet Sir Abraham Hume (1749–1838), a British floriculturist and director of the English East India Company who cultivated many exotic plants in his garden at Wormleybury Hertfordshire, England, a few miles north of London.
We grew this plant for many years and also grew the more spiney dwarf form referred to as Erythrina humeana var. raja. While Erythrina humeana is incredibly attractive when in bloom, we noted the foliage often infested with wooly whitefly, aphids and mealybug followed by unsightly sooty mold, which gave the foliage a blackish gray appearance and for this reason we discontinued production of this species, There are however excellent examples of this tree in Santa Barbara, including a nice specimens next to the Music Department and the Recreation Department facilities at the University of California Santa Barbara. A cherished specimen grew at the southeast corner of the Clubhouse in the Old Union complex at Stanford University until being removed in 2007 after sever dieback from the cold temperatures that year.
This information about Erythrina humeana displayed is based on research conducted in our horticultural library and from reliable online resources. We also will relate observations made about it as it grows in our nursery gardens and other gardens we have visited, as well how the crops have performed in containers in our nursery field. We will also incorporate comments that we receive from others and we welcome hearing from anyone with additional information, particularly if they can share any cultural information that would aid others in growing it.
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