Search

Mexican Holdback

Erythrostemon mexicana

Mexican Poinciana; Tabachin del monte; Retencion mexicana; Caesalpinia mexicana

About This Plant

Sun. Semi-evergreen, with pinnate leaves and racemes of buttercup yellow flowers during warm weather. Mexican poinciana is related to the orange-and-yellow Pride of Barbados, but with a spindly, tree-like habit. It grows up to 15 feet in south-central Texas, though it dies back to the ground in extreme freezes. Think of it as a very large perennial that you can sometimes stand underneath. Expect it to produce a few volunteer seedlings around the garden.

Origins: Northern Mexico to extreme south Texas.

Maintenance

None needed. Prune as needed; on its own it forms a tall multitrunked shrub. It regrows swiftly from the roots after hard freezes and may reseed a bit around the garden.

A tree-sized poinciana.

Min. Height: 6

Max Height: 10 feet

Min. Width: 4

Max Width: 6 feet

Share This Plant Page:
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
Email
Print