Plant Min Zone: 5b
Plant Max Zone: 11a
Sunlight: All Day Full Sun, Full Sun
Water / Rainfall: Very Low, Low, Average
Soil Quality: Poor, Average
Bloom Season: Late Summer
Flower Color: Yellow, Red, Multi-Colored
Berry / Fruit Color: Brown-Beige
Spring Foliage Color: Light Green
Summer Foliage Color: Light Green
Fall Foliage Color: Light Green
Evergreen Foliage: No
Winter Interest: No
Scented Flowers: No
Drought Tolerance: High
Wet-Feet Tolerance: Low
Humidity Tolerance: Low, Medium
Wind Tolerance: High
Poor Soil Tolerance: Rocky Soils, Sandy Soils
Height: 4' - 6'
Width: 3' - 4'
Growth Rate: Medium
Service Life: Long: 5-10 years
Maintenance Need: Low
Spreading Potential: Low
Yearly Trimming Tips: Trim Shrub to Desired Size in Late Winter or Early Spring Before New Growth: Blooms on New Wood.
Plant Grouping Size: Specimen Planting of 1-3, Small Grouping of 3-5
Best Side of House: South Exposure, West Exposure
Extreme Planting Locations: Survives Under Roof Overhang, Survives Severe Drought, Tolerates Extreme Heat, Resistant to Rabbits
Ornamental Features: Multiple Seasons of Interest, Fine Texture, Exceptional / Colorful Foliage
Special Landscape Uses: None
Possible Pest Problems: Root Rot Disease, Foliage Disease
Plant Limitations: May get Occasional Winter-kill, Needs Thick Winter Mulch, Slow to Reach Mature Size, Short / Unreliable Blooming Season
Hardy Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia gilliesii) is a surprisingly hardy shrub from South America native to Argentina and Uruguay. The extremely fine textured bipennate foliage is fern-like and resembles Mimosa or Amorpha. During spring and summer the lovely foliage takes on a bluish green color. By late summer if conditions are optimal, beautiful flowers appear. The flowers are light yellow with protruding red hair-like stamens that are very showy, drawing in curious visitors. By late fall in our zone 6 climate, the foliage drops and typically the above ground woody part of the shrub freezes back and behaves like a Crapemyrtle or a Butterfly Bush. Trim dead growth in mid-spring and enjoy the new beautiful regrowth by early summer. In order for this shrub to flower, it needs to be well-established, in full sun, and preferably on the south or west side of a foundation. Hardy Bird of Paradise need average to dry well drained soil especially in the winter. Hardiness should not be an issue after seeing mature established plants at the Denver Botanic Garden (zone 5b) in full bloom. The Botanic Garden at Oklahoma State University (zone 7a) also has a few decades old specimens. Wet winter soils could limit its success in zone 5-7 areas in the Eastern United States. It has been thriving in our trial gardens and at several residential gardens in Lawrence, KS (zone 6a) 5-7 years ago. During the arctic blast of February, 2021, lows down to -17 degrees F on Feb 16th, 2021 were recorded. The longevity of this cold blast was also impressive: 10 days on a row with highs of 10-15 degrees F or lower, 8 nights of lows in the single digits and negatives, and 36 straight hours of 0 degrees F and mostly lower. It is virtually unknown in most garden centers but worthy of more wide-scale use especially in hot locations.