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Caesalpinia

Caesalpinia (ses-al-PIN-ee-ah)

Family: Fabaceae Unknown Vine (vertical)

The genus, Caesalpinia , is a shrub or tree that is a member of the Fabaceae or legume family. It is named in honor of the 16th-century botanist, philosopher, and physician, Andreas Caesalpini. It is native to Southeast Mexico to Peru and the Caribbean. This plant is typically found in dry tropical woodlands, wooded grasslands, coastal thickets, or bushland. There are over 140 species of this genus. A variety of species are available in the Caribbean, Central American, South America, Madagascar, Southern Africa, and Yemen. This genus has been introduced into the United States in the states of Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas. The shrub or tree is erect or climbing. Some species have prickles or spines on their stems and branches. It is deciduous in zone 9 and perennial in zone 8. They typically bloom in the summer months. In the tropics, it may flower year-round. The green leaves are fern-like and bipinnate with paired pinnae. The flowers form clusters on the terminal or lateral side of the stems and are a variety of colors including yellow, orange, red, or yellow petals with red stamens. Fruits appear after flowering and consist of pods. When they ripen, the pods split open and disperse small seeds. 'Pride of Barbados , ' is cultivated as a garden ornamental in the tropics and subtropics. The ripened seeds of this species contain tannic acids and are poisonous if ingested resulting in gastrointestinal discomfort. This genus prefers full sun and well-drained soil. Once it matures it may tolerate some drought. During the growing season, they perform best if watered deeply but infrequently. Pruning may be required to maintain its shape. The shrub or tree may be used as a specimen, accent, or border in tropical or subtropical areas. The flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds. Some shrubs may develop scale and poorly drained soil may result in mushroom root rot.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 68 attributes.

How it fits the guild

Guild layer 6 - Vine (vertical) Optimal soil pH Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
See companions & conflicts ↓

Companions & Conflicts

Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.

No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.

Also noted by NC State

Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.

Fills a similar niche Caryopteris Lantana camara 'Miss Huff' Salvia rosmarinus

Full plant profile

Growing Conditions
Plant type
Perennial; Poisonous; Shrub
Life cycle
Perennial; Woody
USDA zones
9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a, 11b
Light
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Occasionally Dry
Available space
6-feet-12 feet; 12-24 feet
Mature size
Height: 6 ft. 0 in. - 20 ft. 0 in. | Width: 4 ft. 0 in. - 12 ft. 0 in.
Growth rate
Rapid
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
6 - Vine (vertical)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Climbing; Erect
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Broadleaf Evergreen
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound (Pinnately , Bipinnately, Palmately)
Leaf arrangement
Opposite
Leaf shape
Elliptical; Oblong
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Soft
Leaf size
> 6 inches long, 3-6 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
The leaves are feathery. They are usually evergreen, but they may be deciduous in areas near the edge of their growing range. They have bipinnately compound leaves. Each leaf has pinnae, and each pinna is divided into leaflets.
Flower color
Gold/Yellow; Orange; Red/Burgundy
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Cup
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
The flowers bloom in late summer om the end of the stem or branch. In tropical climates, they bloom all year round. They may have yellow, red, or orange flowers. Some species have orangish-yellow flowers with long red stamens.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit color
Cream/Tan; Green
Fruit type
Capsule; Legume
Fruit size
> 3 inches long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Slender pods appear after the flowers bloom. They are usually green and may transition to red and then brown. The pods contain dark brown to black seeds. The pods split open when they mature and disperse the seeds.
Bark color
Light Brown; Light Gray; Red/Burgundy
Bark detail
The bark on young shoots may have prickles. As it matures, the bark may be smoother but still retain prickles.
Stem color
Purple/Lavender; Red/Burgundy
Stem detail
The stems and twigs are thin and may have sharp prickles.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Unknown
Origin
SE. Mexico to Peru & Caribbean.
Distribution
Caribbean, Mexico, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay, Argentina, Madagascar, Congo, Southern Africa, Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, India, Philippines, Thailand, and the United States--Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas
Wildlife value
Flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Attracts
Butterflies; Hummingbirds
Play value
Attractive Flowers
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule; Legume

Uses (ethnobotany)

The flowers of some species are used for making lei in Hawaii. In South America, indigenous tribes have used the juice of some species for treating fever, heal sores, and relieve cough. The plants have been used to make inks and dyes.

Landscape Use
Landscape location
Container; Houseplants
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Drought Tolerant Garden; Pollinator Garden; Winter Garden
Design feature
Accent; Flowering Tree; Hedge; Small Tree; Specimen
Garden tags
#poisonous #shrub #tropical feel #showy flowers #full sun tolerant #well-drained soil #butterfly garden #pollinator garden #winter garden #bee friendly
Problems & Resistance
Problems
Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Children; Problem for Dogs; Spines/Thorns
Resistant to
Deer
Propagation
Seed
Poison severity
Low
Poison parts
Seeds
Poison symptoms
If ingested, symptoms may include labored breathing, vomiting, and diarrhea.
Toxic principle
The leaves contain hydrogen cyanide, and the seeds and seed pods contain tannins.
Contact dermatitis
No
Toxicity summary
Low severity poison; parts: Seeds

Planted at Hunnicutt

Nobody’s planted this one yet.

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