Pride of Barbados is a great, small-growing tropical tree. You see more of these planted in Houston, San Antonio and Austin, Texas, than you do in Louisiana. But we should use these plants much more. Whenever garden centers have them in stock, they are liquidated quickly.
The scientific name for Pride of Barbados is Caesalpinia. Plants usually are 5 to 8 feet tall by fall. They start producing orangish red flowers on the terminal growth in early to midsummer and continue through early fall.
Stems are spiny. Foliage is fernlike. And because this plant is in the legume family, it sets seed pods similar to what you see on beans.
Pride of Barbados is perennial in south Louisiana. It typically has been annual in north Louisiana, but several gardeners are now reporting over-wintering success.
Rick Bogren