Erythrina herbacea

A relic of the old Southern wilds, Erythrina herbacea, or Coral Bean, is a plant that commands attention—graceful yet defiant, wild yet refined. In frost-free zones, it grows as a woody shrub, branching boldly above ground. Farther north, it dies to the ground with the frost, only to rise again from a thick, gnarled rootstock with the returning heat—an emblem of Southern resilience.

Come spring, slender spires of scarlet, tubular flowers shoot skyward, brilliant beacons for hummingbirds and a sight to behold in any native or cottage garden. As summer deepens, these are followed by strings of glossy, bright red seeds cradled in split black pods—ornamental, eye-catching, and distinctly toxic, a reminder of the plant’s old-world medicine chest legacy.

For overwintering in colder climates (Zones 7 and below), cut the stems back after frost and heap coarse sand over the base—about ten inches—then blanket with pine straw. Come spring, peel back the layers and wait for those blood-red spires to return like old friends.

Coral Bean thrives in rich, well-drained soil with generous summer water, reveling in full sun and heat. Native to the southeastern U.S., it is as much a part of the Southern landscape as the mockingbird and the longleaf pine.

Highlights:

• Southeastern native plant

• Hummingbird-attracting red flowers

• Drought-tolerant once established

• Herbaceous perennial in Zones 7–9, woody shrub in Zones 9–11

• Unique ornamental seeds (toxic if ingested)

• Great for native, pollinator, and cottage-style gardens