Peacock Flower Erythrostemon gilliesii
Other Common Name(s):
Other plants called Peacock Flower:
Previously known as:
- Caesalpinia gillesii
- Poinciana gilliesii
- Phonetic Spelling
- er-rith-rah-STEM-on gil-EEZ-ee-eye
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Native to South America, this shrub was introduced into the US has now naturalized to some extent in the southwest US. It is a shrub or small tree in the bean family. The plant is upright, open, rounded irregularly and spreading.
Its showy yellow flowers with bright red yellow stamens and feathery, fern-like leaves make quite a beautiful display. It's resistant to damage by deer and drought.
Grown as a tropical plant, in lower zones it may need to be planted in a protected location, cut back to the ground each year and the root zone mulched well.
Its growth is dependent on rainfall and sunshine. To reach its full potential or height, adequate rainfall or watering is required as well as 8 hours of sunshine daily. Allowing the soil to dry slightly between watering will stimulate the plant to develop a deep root system. Less often deep watering will help the development of the plant, rather than frequent, less volume watering. Improper watering will also lead to the plants' inability to produce flowers.
Pruning should be done only to promote the shape of the plant. Shearing should never be part of your pruning schedule, the recovery can be a long process.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious insect or disease issues. Ingestion of the fruits and or seeds can cause gastrointestinal upset.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Erythrostemon
- Species:
- gilliesii
- Family:
- Fabaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Used as an accent.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Woody
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Argentina and Uruguay
- Distribution:
- AZ, CA, GA, NM, NV, OK, TX. UT
- Wildlife Value:
- Hummingbirds and butterflies are attracted to the flowers.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Colorful
- Textural
- Dimensions:
- Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 8 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 6 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Shrub
- Tree
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Open
- Rounded
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- 3 feet-6 feet
- 6-feet-12 feet
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Fruit Description:
- Light brown pods with dark glands hairy when young smooth as they mature. Seeds are ovate, compressed brown with purple black spots. These unsightly fruits are heavy and tend to weigh down the branches. The seeds are ejected from its pods when they burst open.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Red/Burgundy
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Long Bloom Season
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 3-6 inches
- Flower Description:
- One inch Yellow flowers with 5" showy red stamens form on racemes up that can grow to u to 20" long. Flowers have five petals and 10 long red stamens.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Broadleaf Evergreen
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Leaf Type:
- Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves are up to 6" long and have 3 to 10 pairs of pinnae. Each pinnae with have 6 to 10 leaflets up to 1/4" long.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Purple/Lavender
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- Young stems are hairy black or brown glands
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Design Feature:
- Accent
- Flowering Tree
- Small Tree
- Specimen
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Heat
- Problems:
- Messy
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Oral irritation, intense burning and irritation of mouth, tongue and lips, excessive drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty swallowing and incoordination is possible. Deaths in rabbits have been reported.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- possibly hydrocyanic acid
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Leaves
