What kind of plant is Pride of Barbados?
Christopher Pierce
Published May 23, 2026
What kind of plant is Pride of Barbados?
Caesalpinia pulcherrima is most commonly known as Pride of Barbados or Red Bird of Paradise. It has orange-yellow flowers and is a little bushier than Caesalpinia gillesii, which is most commonly known as Yellow Bird of Paradise, because it has all yellow flowers. Both plants love the heat, need full sun, and prefer very well-drained soil.
When do pride of Barbados flowers come back?
Pride of Barbados flowers bloom best in full sun. Also, Pride of Barbados is considered drought tolerant once established. Within the USDA Zones of 8 – 11, Pride of Barbados dies to the ground following frost or freezing temperatures, but in zone 8B, at least, it comes back reliable, albeit late, in middle spring.
What kind of bird is Pride of Barbados?
Pride of Barbados. There are two very common species of Caesalpinia in the nursery trade: pulcherrima and gillesii, and both are quite beautiful. Caesalpinia pulcherrima is most commonly known as Pride of Barbados or Red Bird of Paradise.
How did the Pride of Barbados get its name?
It is referred to by other names including Barbados Flowerfence, Peacock Flower, Mexican Bird of Paradise, Dwarf Flamboyan, Caesalpinia, and Dwarf Poinciana. The species name pulcherrima literally means “very pretty” and this plant definitely lives up to the name.
Caesalpinia pulcherrima is most commonly known as Pride of Barbados or Red Bird of Paradise. It has orange-yellow flowers and is a little bushier than Caesalpinia gillesii, which is most commonly known as Yellow Bird of Paradise, because it has all yellow flowers. Both plants love the heat, need full sun, and prefer very well-drained soil.
Pride of Barbados flowers bloom best in full sun. Also, Pride of Barbados is considered drought tolerant once established. Within the USDA Zones of 8 – 11, Pride of Barbados dies to the ground following frost or freezing temperatures, but in zone 8B, at least, it comes back reliable, albeit late, in middle spring.
How tall does a pride of Barbados tree get?
Pride of Barbados is an evergreen shrub or small tree in frost free climates, a deciduous shrub in zone 9, and a returning perennial in zone 8. In the tropics it gets 15-20′ tall and its ungainly, wide spreading branches can cover about the same width.
It is referred to by other names including Barbados Flowerfence, Peacock Flower, Mexican Bird of Paradise, Dwarf Flamboyan, Caesalpinia, and Dwarf Poinciana. The species name pulcherrima literally means “very pretty” and this plant definitely lives up to the name.