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Erythrina abyssinica (Abyssinian Coral Tree) - A deciduous coral tree that has upright to spreading growth to about 30 feet with mature branches and trunk having beautiful light brown corky bark. Younger stems typically have a few thorns as do the 3 bright green broadly-ovate leaflets that are clothed in a gray wooly felt. The flowers which can appear in late winter while the plant is bare or as late as early summer are bright red with banners and other petals about the same length and wavy stamens topping the cone-like inflorescence.
Plant in full sun. Drought tolerant but can definitely benefit from regular deep summer watering. Has proven cold hardy to 30° F and likely can tolerate short duration temperatures a bit lower. A good looking smaller coral tree with unusual bark and flowers.
Erythrina abyssinica is widespread in Africa, extending in the north from the Republic of the Sudan and Ethiopia south to Zimbabwe where it can be found as a characteristic tree in the mid elevation woodland and grasslands between 3,000 and 7,500 feet. The name for the genus comes from the Greek word 'erythros' meaning "red" in reference to the typically bright red flowers of many of the species. The specific epithet comes from the Abyssinia, an early name for Ethiopia, where this plant was first described from, as Chirocalyx abyssinicus, in 1846 by Christian Ferdinand Friedrich Hochstetter (1787–1860). Besides Abyssinian Coral Tree, other common names include Lucky Bean and Flame Tree.
This tree is relatively rare in cultivation in California as noted by Elizabeth McClintock when she wrote her article "Erythrina Cultivated in California for the Erythrina Symposium IV in Alertonia (,Pacific Tropical Botanic Garden, 1982). At that time McClintock noted that only 2 individuals were known to be in existence in California, one in Franceschi Park in Santa Barbara that was planted in 1960 and another in a private garden in Culver City. We have grown and sold this plant since 2008 from cuttings originally taken from the tree growing at Franceschi Park. A plant we sold has become a very nice specimen on the north side of Cottage Hospital's Knapp Building and two were planted in Coral Tree Alley at the University of California Santa Barbara.
This information about Erythrina abyssinica 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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