Accession Count: 15
Common Name:
yellow bird of paradise
Family Name:
Fabaceae
Botanical Name:
Caesalpinia gilliesii
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Caesalpinia gilliesii is a large shrub that can grow 10 feet tall and 8 feet wide. It is an evergreen with fern-like leaves and six to twelve pairs of bluish-green secondary leaflets. It exhibits alternate, bipinnate phyllotaxy. The flowers are yellow and cluster at the stem tips. Each flower has five petals and long, red stamens. The stems and branches range from brown to reddish green in color. This shrub bears bean pods that are green or red and covered in glandular hairs, resulting in a fuzzy texture. Once the bean pods mature, they split open and curl (1).
Compound:
Cae gil
Geographic Origin:
Argentina
Ecozone Origin:
Neotropic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
Caesalpinia gilliesii is native to South America growing most in Argentina and Uruguay (4) but has naturalized in subtropical regions of Mexico and the United States (5). This ornamental, commonly cultivated shrub can be found in desert environments; especially at higher elevations, in grassland pastures, along roadsides, and in other disturbed areas (6).
Cultivation Notes:
Caesalpinia gilliesii does not require a lot of watering but prefers well-drained soils. The yellow bird of paradise thrive best in full sun and are heat and cold tolerant. In lower elevations, less water is required and it can rely entirely on rainfall in mid-range elevations. The yellow bird of paradise should not be grown around pools or too close to walkways, because they litter. Both the leaves and seeds of this plant are poisonous make sure to keep away from small animals and children. It is recommended that Caesalpinia gilliesii be trimmed once a year. However, the yellow bird of paradise can be invasive in a landscape, be sure to keep it contained.
Ethnobotany:
The Caesalpinia Gilliesii ripe seeds are poisonous and harmful to both humans and animals. (4) In landscaping, this shrub can be planted as an ornamental, informational specimen, or a textural hedge or screen (6). It is prized as an ornamental for its decorative branching pattern and exotic flowers. (5) It is also a great plant to revegetate and naturalize an eroded area. (5)
Height:
6 - 10 feet
Width:
6 - 10 feet
Growth Rate:
Fast Growing
Grow Season:
Summer
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
Yellow
Function:
Screen
Spread:
Spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Invasive
Toxicity:
Toxic
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
Citations:
- "Caesalpinia gilliesii – Bird-of-paradise Shrub."Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers. N.p.. Web. 4 Dec 2012. http://www.fireflyforest.com/flowers/2774/caesalpinia-gilliesii-bird-of-paradise-shrub/.
- "Yellow Bird of Paradise." Horticulture Unlimited Inc.. N.p.. Web. 3 Dec 2012. http://www.horticultureunlimited.com/landscape-plants/yellow-bird-paradise.html.
- Perry, Bob. Landscape Plants for Western Regions: An Illustrated Guide to Plants for Water Conservation. Land Design Publishing, 1992.
- “Yellow Bird of Paradise.” Horticulture Unlimited, horticultureunlimited.com. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- Sacamono , Charles, and Warren Jones. “Caesalpinia Gilliesii .” Landscape Plants for Dry Reigons , De Capo Press, 2000, pp. 75–75. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- Kinsey, T. Beth. Southeastern Arizona Wildflowers and Plants, Fireflyforest.com. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
- “Yellow Bird Of Paradise.” Monrovia - Horticultural Craftsman since 1926, www.monrovia.com/plant-catalog/plants/811/yellow-bird-of-paradise.php./. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
