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Dwarf Poinciana

About Dwarf Poinciana

The Pride of Barbados is an evergreen shrub or small tree that is a member of the Fabaceae or legume family. It is originally from Mexico and the Caribbean and has beautiful showy orange-red flowers, fern-like leaves, and prickles on its stems and branches. In the tropics, it may grow 15-20 feet tall and equally as wide. It's a deciduous shrub in zone 9 and perennial in zone 8.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Caesalpinia pulcherrima

Genus

Caesalpinia

Family

Fabaceae

Order

Fabales

Also known as

Poinciana, Peacock flower, Red bird of paradise, Mexican bird of paradise, Pride of barbados, Flos pavonis, Flamboyant-de-jardin and ʻohai aliʻi

How to care for Dwarf Poinciana

💦 Water

How often to water your Dwarf Poinciana

Dwarf Poinciana needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Dwarf Poinciana in your home

Dwarf Poinciana love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Dwarf Poinciana does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Dwarf Poinciana in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Dwarf Poinciana

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Dwarf Poinciana: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Dwarf Poinciana after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

Browse #DwarfPoinciana

💡 FAQs

⭐ Difficulty Level

Dwarf Poinciana is generally considered an easy-to-care-for plant and makes a great choice for beginners!

Common Dwarf Poinciana Problems →

💦 Water Needs

Dwarf Poinciana prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Dwarf Poinciana Root Rot →

☀️ Sunlight Needs

Dwarf Poinciana requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Dwarf Poinciana is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Is Dwarf Poinciana Edible? →

Dwarf Poinciana Toxicity to Cats →

Dwarf Poinciana Toxicity to Dogs →

Dwarf Poinciana Toxicity to Humans →

🪴 Soil

Dwarf Poinciana does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

What Are Healthy Dwarf Poinciana Roots →

💩 Fertilizer

Dwarf Poinciana is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.

⬆️ ⬇️ Growth Pattern

Dwarf Poinciana will branch off as it grows. To encourage branching, pinch off the newest growth at the tip and the stem will branch off into two.

Dwarf Poinciana Lifecycle →

Dwarf Poinciana Size Guide →

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Dwarf Poinciana can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

Dwarf Poinciana Hardiness Zones →

Is Dwarf Poinciana a Weed? →

🌱 Propagation

The seeds of Dwarf Poinciana can be used to grow new plants! After your plant flowers, any seeds that formed can be collected and germinated in potting soil.

🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Dwarf Poinciana, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!

🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.