The common name coral tree refers to about 100 different species of trees that belong to the genus Erythrina. Some other nicknames are flame tree and tiger's claw. These are tall, broad, leafy shade trees that bloom with brilliantly colored flowers. They grow in tropical climates all over the world.
I have always thought this is one of the strangest trees around. The Coral Tree is also called a Flame Tree (as in the "Flame Trees of Thika"). They lose all their leaves in the winter and set out flowers on the completely bare trunk and limbs. The flowers have a very short stem and appear to grow out of the bark. Later the leaves come out and are large heart shaped. The blooms have no fragrance that I can detect. This particular tree was heavily pruned this past winter and I sometimes wondered if it could regrow after the shock, but it is blooming vigorously now.
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