Caesalpinia gilliesii Bird Of Paradise, Bird-of-paradise shrub PFAF Plant Database

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Summary

Physical Characteristics

Caesalpinia gilliesii is a deciduous Shrub growing to 5 m (16ft 5in).
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 8. It is in flower from July to August. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
It can fix Nitrogen.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in very alkaline soils.
It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers moist soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Plant Habitats

Woodland Garden Sunny Edge; Cultivated Beds;

Edible Uses

None known

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Antitumor

The seeds are reported to have antitumour activity[274].

References More on Medicinal Uses

Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

Nitrogen Fixer

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Requires a sunny position[11], succeeding in any moderately fertile well-drained soil[200] including limy soils[182]. This species is on the borderline of hardiness in Britain. It can tolerate occasional lows down to about -12°c, so long as it is not too wet. It is best grown against a warm, sheltered sunny wall[200]. The plant succeeds against a warm wall at Kew Gardens, where it has grown to a height of 8 metres, it also succeeds in more open conditions on the Isle of Wight[11]. The plant is often cultivated for its very ornamental, showy flowers[274]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200].

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

Temperature Converter

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Plant Propagation

Seed - pre-soak for 12 - 24 hours in warm water and sow in a greenhouse in early spring[200]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for at least their first winter, planting them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Softwood cuttings in sand in a frame[200].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Range

SOUTHERN AMERICA: Peru (Lima), Argentina (Córdoba, Mendoza, Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Chaco, Corrientes, Entre Ríos, Jujuy, La Pampa, La Rioja, Neuquén, Salta, San Juan, San Luis, Santiago del Estero, Tucumán), Chile (Atacama, Coquimbo), Uruguay

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it's worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

IUCN Red List

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Caesalpinia decapetala	Mysore Thorn, Shoofly	Shrub	3.0	7-10		LMH	N	M	0	2	2
Caesalpinia digyna	Teri pods, Udakiryaka	Shrub	10.0	10-12	F	LMH	N	M	2	2	4
Caesalpinia echinata	Pau Brasil, Brazil Wood, Indian Savin	Tree	12.0	10-12	M	LMH	SN	M	0	2	4
Caesalpinia sappan	Sappanwood. Rainbow wood	Tree	7.0	10-12	F	LMH	N	DM	1	2	3
Caesalpinia spinosa	Spiny Holdback, Tara	Tree	6.0	9-11	F	LMH	SN	M	2	2	4

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

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Expert comment

Author

(Hook.)Wall. ex D.Dietr.

Botanical References

200274

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here

Readers comment


Elizabeth Truswell	Thu Mar 29 2007

I am interested to know that this plant grows in Britain. I have memories of it when I was a child in the desert mining town of Kalgoorlie in western Australia, where we had a small grove of the shrubs growing in a very dry hard soil. It has a peculiar aromatic smell that i remember well.


John Murphy	Thu Jul 19 2007

I live in Bexleyheath, Kent. For some years now I have tried to grow this plant without success I would grow the plant to about twelve inches bring it indoors for the winter. The next year the same would happen. However one year I built a pergalar at the end of my garden and encased in polycarbonate for the winter. Three years later the damn plant has grown larger than the structure and it has got ten buds (florets). The problem is that now it's got a spread of over eighteen feet. How do I prune it?


Wylie Young	Wed Nov 25 2009

Of all the sites I looked at, yours was the only one to include germination information. thank you.

Caesalpinia gilliesii - (Hook.)Wall. ex D.Dietr.