Erythrina

The genus Erythrina includes about 30 deciduous trees or shrubs with spiny shoots, less often herbaceous plants of bushy shape. The leaves are broad, complex, with three leaflets. Collected in large brushes, the flowers are orange-red in color, elongated, moth-shaped. Fruit - long, slightly lignified beans, usually intensely colored. The seeds are usually bright red and resemble corals in appearance. Erythrina coral tree (Erythrina corallodendron) - a plant in nature up to 3-6 m high, characterized by spiny shoots with leaves of three ovate leaves pointed upwards. Scarlet flowers are collected in brushes; they bloom in May-June; the seeds are bright red, similar to corals (hence the name). Erythrina rooster's comb (E. crista-galli) is a shrub up to 2.5 m high; herbaceous growth grows annually from the root system. It has a blackish rough, often twisted trunk. The leaves consist of three oval leathery leaves, bluish-green. At the ends of the branches in June and July, bright crimson flowers constantly bloom. Erythrina Sikesa (E. x sikesii) is a hybrid that reaches a height of 3 m with upturned branches. Leaves with a blue tint, and red-orange flowers are collected in brushes.

The genus Erythrina includes about 30 deciduous trees or shrubs with spiny shoots, less often herbaceous plants of bushy shape. The leaves are broad, complex, with three leaflets. Collected in large brushes, the flowers are orange-red in color, elongated, moth-shaped. Fruit - long, slightly lignified beans, usually intensely colored. The seeds are usually bright red and resemble corals in appearance.

Erythrina coral tree (Erythrina corallodendron) - a plant in nature up to 3-6 m high, characterized by spiny shoots with leaves of three ovate leaves pointed upwards. Scarlet flowers are collected in brushes; they bloom in May-June; the seeds are bright red, similar to corals (hence the name).

Erythrina rooster's comb (E. crista-galli) is a shrub up to 2.5 m high; herbaceous growth grows annually from the root system. It has a blackish rough, often twisted trunk. The leaves consist of three oval leathery leaves, bluish-green. At the ends of the branches in June and July, bright crimson flowers constantly bloom.

Erythrina Sikesa (E. x sikesii) is a hybrid that reaches a height of 3 m with upturned branches. Leaves with a blue tint, and red-orange flowers are collected in brushes.

Cultivation

Species of erythrina are widely used as ornamental crops, they are grown in the fresh air, mostly in the open ground (especially in mild climates). Usually erythrina cockscomb is resistant to environmental conditions of temperate and cold climates, but still the root system is recommended to cover for the winter, mulching the soil at the base of the plant with leaves, straw or peat. Plants are planted in a permanent place in April-May. They have no special requirements for the soil, although they prefer fertile, rich in organic matter. They are responsive to the introduction of rotten content manure (10 kg / m2) both during planting and during the entire growing period. In the summer months, a liquid fertilizer of 10 ml per bucket is added to the water for irrigation every 2 weeks. Rooster's comb erythrina can also be grown in a large pot (20-25 cm high), using similar soil that was recommended for open ground. In winter, plants are taken to a closed, but unheated room. Erythrina coral tree pruning is not required. In October, cut the stalks of erythrina cockscomb under the root, and then mulch the soil around. In potted plants, the stems are cut off, leaving 15 cm each, at the end of winter.

Species of erythrina are widely used as ornamental crops, they are grown in the fresh air, mostly in the open ground (especially in mild climates). Usually erythrina cockscomb is resistant to environmental conditions of temperate and cold climates, but still the root system is recommended to cover for the winter, mulching the soil at the base of the plant with leaves, straw or peat. Plants are planted in a permanent place in April-May. They have no special requirements for the soil, although they prefer fertile, rich in organic matter. They are responsive to the introduction of rotten content manure (10 kg / m2) both during planting and during the entire growing period. In the summer months, a liquid fertilizer of 10 ml per bucket is added to the water for irrigation every 2 weeks.

Rooster's comb erythrina can also be grown in a large pot (20-25 cm high), using similar soil that was recommended for open ground. In winter, plants are taken to a closed, but unheated room.

Erythrina coral tree pruning is not required.

In October, cut the stalks of erythrina cockscomb under the root, and then mulch the soil around. In potted plants, the stems are cut off, leaving 15 cm each, at the end of winter.

Location

Plants prefer a place in the open sun.

Temperature

Cockscomb erythrina, grown in a pot, is kept at a temperature of approximately 4-7 °C in winter, and in early spring it is gradually brought up to 15 °C.

Watering

Water frequently in spring and summer. In winter, it is enough to keep the soil in a slightly moist state. Potted plants are watered regularly.

Transplant

Transplanted annually in the spring, as long as the size of the container allows. Then it is enough to change the surface layer of the earth.

Reproduction

Apply seeding of seeds. Seeds of cock's comb erythrina are soaked in water for two days before sowing, which facilitates germination. In April, you can also take semi-woody cuttings (a branch of the current year "with a heel") 10 cm long and plant them for root formation one at a time in cups with a mixture of peat and sand (1:1), maintaining the temperature at 18-20 °C. After the formation of roots, cuttings are transplanted several times into larger containers, and after 1-2 years in the spring they are finally planted.

Apply seeding of seeds. Seeds of cock's comb erythrina are soaked in water for two days before sowing, which facilitates germination.

In April, you can also take semi-woody cuttings (a branch of the current year "with a heel") 10 cm long and plant them for root formation one at a time in cups with a mixture of peat and sand (1:1), maintaining the temperature at 18-20 °C. After the formation of roots, cuttings are transplanted several times into larger containers, and after 1-2 years in the spring they are finally planted.

Diseases

Erythrina may be subject to some fungal infections, such as verticillous wilt caused by dark white verticillium albo-atrum, or root rot caused by Texas root rot (Phymatotrichum omnivorum). Infected plants are removed. The roots are affected by nematodes, as a result, first the plants wither, and then die completely. Such plants are discarded and marigolds are sown in their place.

Acquisition

Erythrinas are not very common plants - they can only be found in well-supplied gardening centers and specialized nurseries. Choose plants of small size, but already well-formed.