Red Bird of Paradise
Caesalpinia pulcherrima
A tropical-looking shrub with showy red powderpuff blooms that attract butterflies and hummingbirds from spring through fall.
Hardy in USDA zones 9-11; freezes to the ground below the mid-20s but reliably resprouts, and it revels in extreme low-desert summer heat.
AMWUA Notes
A moderate-water heat lover that thrives in reflected sun; classic hard-cutback shrub for reliable summer color.
Care Guide
Water every 7-10 days in summer for continuous bloom; it is heat-loving and drought-tolerant once established but flowers more with steady moisture.
It blooms on new wood, so cut it back hard, nearly to the ground, in late winter after frost danger passes; this drives a flush of fresh growth and heavy summer bloom.
Minimal feeding needed; a light spring application supports the hard-pruned regrowth.
Generally pest-free, though seeds and pods are toxic if ingested, so site thoughtfully around children and pets.
A warm-season performer that stays dormant and cut-back through winter, freezing back in frost, then exploding into red bloom from late spring through fall heat.
Soil, Feeding & Propagation
Adaptable to most well-drained soils; tolerates caliche and alkaline pH 7.5-8.5.
Needs well-drained soil.
Low feeder.
Easily from scarified seed; often blooms the first year.
4-5 ft
Non-aggressive roots; safe near pools, walls, and foundations.
Placement Tips
- •Plan for a 5 ft mound; space 4-5 ft apart or use as a bold single color accent.
- •Loves reflected heat, so it excels against south and west walls and around pool decks where other plants fade.
- •Low litter and clean summer habit make it genuinely pool-friendly; just site the winter cut-back stubs behind other plants for looks.
- •Give it the hottest, sunniest spot in the yard for maximum flowering.
Features
Best Uses
Ecological Value
Attracts
Wildlife Value
Companion Plants
Quick Stats
Design Styles
Include in Your Project
Love Red Bird of Paradise? Our landscape team sources from wholesale nurseries and can incorporate it into your design.
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Use this care guide to maintain your Red Bird of Paradise. Questions about your landscape? Reach out anytime.
Data from 2024 AMWUA “Landscape Plants for the Arizona Desert” guide.
Red Bird of Paradise — common questions
Answers for low-desert Phoenix conditions, drawn from this plant’s growing data.
How much water does Red Bird of Paradise need in Phoenix?
Red Bird of Paradise is a moderate-water shrub once established. Water every 7-10 days in summer for continuous bloom; it is heat-loving and drought-tolerant once established but flowers more with steady moisture. A moderate-water heat lover that thrives in reflected sun; classic hard-cutback shrub for reliable summer color.
How big does Red Bird of Paradise get?
Expect roughly 5 ft tall and 5 ft wide at maturity, with a moderate growth rate. Allow about 4-5 ft of spacing when planting. Non-aggressive roots; safe near pools, walls, and foundations.
Can you plant Red Bird of Paradise near a pool?
Yes. Red Bird of Paradise is considered pool-friendly, meaning it stays clean enough around water features and hardscape. Litter is rated low.
Can Red Bird of Paradise handle Arizona heat and winter frost?
Red Bird of Paradise is hardy in USDA 9-11 and wants full sun. Hardy in USDA zones 9-11; freezes to the ground below the mid-20s but reliably resprouts, and it revels in extreme low-desert summer heat. A warm-season performer that stays dormant and cut-back through winter, freezing back in frost, then exploding into red bloom from late spring through fall heat.
Does Red Bird of Paradise have thorns?
No. Red Bird of Paradise is thornless, so it is safe alongside walkways, patios and play areas.
Is Red Bird of Paradise safe around pets?
Red Bird of Paradise is not listed as pet-friendly, so keep it out of areas where pets graze or chew, and check with your vet if you are unsure.
When does Red Bird of Paradise bloom in Arizona?
Red Bird of Paradise blooms in spring-fall, with red flowers. The bloom draws butterflies, hummingbirds.
How much maintenance does Red Bird of Paradise need?
Red Bird of Paradise is low-maintenance. Leaf, flower and pod litter is rated low. It blooms on new wood, so cut it back hard, nearly to the ground, in late winter after frost danger passes; this drives a flush of fresh growth and heavy summer bloom.
What kind of soil does Red Bird of Paradise need?
Adaptable to most well-drained soils; tolerates caliche and alkaline pH 7.5-8.5. Nutrient needs are low. Minimal feeding needed; a light spring application supports the hard-pruned regrowth.
Is Red Bird of Paradise native to Arizona?
No. Red Bird of Paradise is not an Arizona native; it originates from the West Indies, Mexico, but it is grown successfully in low-desert landscapes here.