Erythrina fusca aka Coral Bean

Erythrina fusca belongs to the bean family, Fabaceae. This deciduous tree sheds its leaves. Its names include coral bean and swamp immortelle. It is native to tropical America and Tanzania's Pemba Island. Its range also spans the tropics to the western Pacific. It grows in wet parts of the tropics. It often lives near freshwater swamps by the coast. It spreads onto open ground and along swamp edges. These sites need not stay flooded all year.

The tree has many branches and a broad, round crown. Most trees reach 33–49 feet [10–15 metres] tall. Rare trees reach about 85 feet [26 metres]. Its spread can reach about 39 feet [12 metres]. It has soft wood and a short trunk with spines. Some trees form buttresses, or flared supports, at the trunk's base. It grows at a moderate rate. Its pale orange blooms draw birds. The birds pollinate the flowers. The sources give no clear bloom season or fruit details.

Grow this tree in full sun, not shade. It accepts sand, loam and clay soils. Acid soil suits it well. It also copes with neutral soil and very acid ground. Wet sites match its wild home. It copes with floods, drought and salt exposure. These traits suit some sites near the coast. It grows best in warmth, in tropical and subtropical areas. Plants For A Future lists USDA hardiness zones 10–12.

Gardeners grow it for blooms, shade and its broad crown. Farmers use it to shade coffee and cocoa crops. They may need to prune often to control that shade. People also use it for live fences. It can serve as a support for climbing crops. Root bacteria help it fix nitrogen in the soil. Fallen leaves add plant matter to the ground. As a pioneer tree, it can shelter later forest growth. The supplied sources name no specific pests or diseases.

Records note food uses for young leaves, raw and cooked. People also cook the flowers as a vegetable. These records do not prove that all parts are safe. The sources lack toxic alkaloid levels for this species. They also note folk remedies made from bark, roots and flowers. Uses include treating fever, coughs, wounds and liver complaints. These records show past use, not proof of safe treatment.