[Jaken]

While driving around in Croatia I spotted this odd looking tree. Can anyone help me identify it. About 3 meters high.

[John J]

Looks like a Caesalpinia.

[Fleur Pavlidis]

Caesalpina pulcherrima, we call it bird of paradise. It’s a wonderful garden plant. It is totally drought proof when self seeded, as it often is, and can be pruned savagely without complaint.

[David Dickinson]

Hi Jaken

It looks like the Caesalpinia gilliesii that I have in my garden. I am not an expert by any means and I have never grown Caesalpinia pulcherrima, though I once got 8 seeds to germinate which all very soon rotted! However, photos on the internet show an orange flower for C. pulcherrima. Does the latter have yellow forms too?

[Fleur Pavlidis]

My mistake David. I was too idle to look at my plant list which is on my PC. The deceits of the iPad!

[Jaken]

Thank you all. Seeds purchased

[David Dickinson]

Hi Jaken

Don't forget to look at the list of seeds you can get from the MGS Seed Exchange. Caesalpinia gilliesii seeds are available there. If I remember correctly you are entitled to get up to 10 packs of seeds free as a member. If you contribute seeds you can get up to 15 packets.

If you are not sure where to find the list and instructions etc, go to the MGS home page and just below the large photo at the top of the page you will see a heading "Seed Exchange". First line. to the right. Click on this and it will take you to the current list. Chantal does a wonderful job of coordinating all the seeds that are sent and arranging to get them to you.