Peacock Flower
Caesalpinia pulcherrima
Peacock flower is a fast-growing, prickly shrub with feathery leaves and showy clusters of red-and-yellow or yellow flowers with long, curling stamens. It flowers almost all year in warm climates.
Photo: Charles J. Sharp · CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Essential Care Requirements
Light
Full sun
Watering
Low
Water regularly when young; established plants are drought tolerant.
Soil
Most well-drained soils; pH 6.0–8.0.
Temperature and humidity
5–45 °C · Low humidity
Feeding
Feed lightly every few months.
Pruning and propagation
Propagate by seed
Cut back hard in late winter to keep it compact and flowering.
The seeds and pods are toxic if eaten by people or pets.
Top Cultivation Tips
Nick and soak seeds before sowing.
Remove pods to prolong flowering and keep children safe.
Wear gloves for the prickles.
Flowers in its first year from seed.
Common problems
Caterpillars
The larvae of moths and butterflies, which chew holes in leaves, flowers and fruit and can strip a plant in days.
How to treat it →PestMealybugs
White, cottony insects that hide in leaf joints and under leaves, weakening plants and spreading easily to neighbours.
How to treat it →PestScale insects
Immobile, shell-covered insects that cling to stems and leaves, draining sap and weakening trees and houseplants.
How to treat it →
