Erythrina is bellong to Fabaceae (legume) family and known as the red genus (erythros which means red and alludes to the bright red flowers and seeds).  The genus Erythrina is a group of shrubs and trees which have their origin is in South Africa, West Indies, Brazil, and Australia. The genus contains over 170 species.

Erythrina lysistemon: Common Coral Tree, is a lovely, small to medium-sized, deciduous tree with a spreading crown and brilliant scarlet red flowers. Height of this showy tree is not more than 10 meters. Naturaly it is found at southern and eastern Africa. Erythrina lysistemon’s dazzling flowers have made it one of the best known and widely grown South African trees.

The bark is smooth and dark gray to gray-brown. Short, hooked prickles are sparsely and randomly scattered on the trunk and branches. The leaves are trifoliolate (compound leaves with 3 leaflets), and each leaflet is large, usually up to 17 x 18 cm. The common coral tree blooms in early spring and it produces its flowers before its new leaves or just as the leaves begin to show.

The flowers are a beautiful clear scarlet and are carried in short, dense heads, about 9 cm long, on long, thick stalks. The flowers produce abundant nectar that attracts many nectar-feeding birds and insects. The fruit is a slender, black pod that can be 15 cm long and is sharply constricted between the seeds. The pod splits while still attached to the tree to release bright red ‘lucky bean’ seeds.

Erythrina lysistemon is thought to have both medicinal and magical properties by many people in South Africa. Erythrina lysistemon does contain a large number of alkaloids that are known to be highly toxic, but its use in traditional medicine suggests that they have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects.

Erythrina lysistemon is often confused with Erythrina caffra, the Coast Coral Tree. Erythrina caffra grows in the coastal and riverine fringe forests It is generally taller than Erythrina lysistemon, the flowers are orange-scarlet, and a cream-flowered form is occasionally seen, and the standard petal is shorter and broader so that the stamens stick out of the flower giving it a whiskered look. In most other respects they are very similar, and were in fact regarded as the same variable species for many years and, when not in flower, are difficult to tell apart.

Erythrina lysistemon is a fast-growing, undemanding tree. It does best in fertile, well-aerated and well-drained soils. It is fairly drought-tolerant, but performs better if given water during summer. It is sensitive to cold and grows best in frost free gardens, but will survive in regions with a winter minimum of -7 ºC/20 °F provided protected from frost when young.

Erythrina lysistemon is easily propagated from seed, cuttings and truncheons. Seed is sown in spring and summer, in a well-drained, general-purpose potting soil, placed in a warm but shaded spot and kept moist. Cuttings are best taken in spring to summer, and truncheons in late winter to spring. Truncheons are made from part of or even an entire branch which is left to dry and heal for a few days, then planted into a pot filled with sand or even directly into the soil where the plant is to be grown, and kept damp but not wet. If a plant has to be transplanted, this is best done whilst it is dormant, during winter.

The common coral tree is an excellent specimen tree for gardens and parks and is very effective planted in avenues or for street plantings. It is particularly recommended for that spot in the garden where you need sun in winter and shade in summer.