A showy addition to Lowcountry gardens, as you keep it away from children and pets

Throughout spring and early summer, the red flower spikes of coral bean (Erythrina herbacea) make bold splashes of color in Lowcountry woods and clearings.

These showy, tubular flowers give rise to equally striking seed pods, several inches long and containing bright red seeds.

The leaves of coral bean are compound, each comprising three arrowhead-shaped leaflets with prickles on the undersides. The stems also have short spines.

Native to the southeastern U.S., coral bean (also called Cherokee bean or cardinal spear) is related to peas, beans, and other members of the legume family.

In the warmer parts of its range, coral bean is a shrub or small tree up to twenty feet tall. In other areas, it’s a smaller plant, dying down to the ground during cold weather and leafing out again in the spring.

The species has a long history of use in traditional medicine. Native Americans made tea from the thick, woody roots to treat bowel and kidney problems. Decoctions of the leaves were used as a general tonic. The colorful seeds, packed full of toxic alkaloids, have been used in Mexico to make rat poison.

When cooked, young leaves and flowers are reported to be edible (I advise much caution here), but eating the seeds causes diarrhea and vomiting.

Despite its toxic properties, coral bean can be a showy addition to Lowcountry gardens as long as you keep it away from children and pets.

The plant can be propagated by cuttings, but it’s also easily grown from seed.

First, though, you need to use a knife or razor blade to make one or two nicks through the red outer coating of each seed to facilitate water absorption. Wear gloves if possible, and make sure you cut deeply enough to reveal the white layer underneath.

Then, before planting, soak the seeds in water for twenty-four hours or so until they swell.

Coral bean is a low-maintenance plant that’s tolerant of high heat, sandy soils, and sunny locations, even partial shade.

Its flowers attract both hummingbirds and butterflies, and the large seed pods add interest and color to the landscape for a long time.

This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 5:30 AM.