Caesalpinia gilliesii

Caesalpinia gilliesii, formerly known as Poinciana gillesii and now called Erythrostemon gilliesii, is also known as the 'little flamboyant' or the yellow bird of paradise due to its spectacular inflorescences strongly imbued with exoticism, which can evoke the arabesque plumage of the bird of paradise: they are beautiful compound clusters of sulphur yellow flowers, with long carmine stamens gracefully arched towards the sky. This deciduous bush is hardy and easy to grow in any type of soil, even dry and poor soil. Over time, it grows on a small trunk, forming a delightful small tree with an airy crown adorned with an insolent beauty of flowering. Don't hesitate to adopt it in your garden, even in the Paris region, as it is hardier than it appears. Provide it with well-drained soil, a very sunny exposure, and a sheltered location!

Caesalpinia gilliesii, or Gillies' Cæsalpinia, belongs to the Fabaceae (Leguminosae) family and is native to Argentina and Uruguay. The growth of this bush is fast, it ages well, and its adult size will reach an average of 1.50m (4ft 11in) to 2m in height, with a spread of 1.50m (4ft 11in). Rather bushy in its early years, it takes on the appearance of a small tree with a single trunk and a rounded, spreading crown as it ages.

The 'little flamboyant' is a small deciduous bush with brittle branches that make it sensitive to strong winds. Its flowering occurs in June-July but can extend until September if you regularly remove the pods that form. The conical-shaped inflorescences measure 30 to 40cm (11.8 to 15.7in). They appear at the ends of the branches. Each one is composed of many flowers, approximately 3.5cm (1.4in) in diameter, with light yellow petals, one of which is longer, and 10 particularly long carmine stamens that are visible from a distance. Their fragrance, often considered unpleasant, can only be perceived at a very short distance. This flowering, which is honey-producing and nectar-producing, is followed by the formation of velvety beige pods, 6 to 8cm (2.4 to 3.1in) long, containing flattened seeds. Its foliage, which appears very light, is another asset of this bush: its long leaves are finely divided into tiny leaflets, 5mm (0.2in) long and 3mm (0.1in) wide, with a very elegant grey-green colour. They disappear due to cold or intense drought.

Although Caesalpinia gilliesii has a very exotic appearance, an adult specimen is capable of regrowing from the stump after enduring -15°C (5 °F). It does not tolerate pot cultivation well, but its resistance allows it to be planted in the ground in many of our regions, in well-prepared and well-drained soil. It can be used as a solitary plant, in the centre of a flower bed, to fill a large slope, or against a sunny wall. Its base can be surrounded by perennial shrubs with summer flowering, such as Salvia microphylla, greigii, or jamensis with red flowers ('Royal Bumble',' Red Dream', 'Raspberry Royal'), or blue ones like Salvia 'Bleu Armor' or S. chamaedryoides.