We’re on the road again and staying near Blythe, CA on the Arizona side. I was delighted to see one of my favorite “Red Bird of Paradise” a.k.a. “Pride of Barbados” shrubs growing along the frontage road. The shrub doesn’t do well in cooler climates like the California coast, so I always look for them when we’re in warmer areas. I went out a while ago and got this close-up shot. Click on the image to enlarge.
More about these from Desert Tropicals:
The Red Bird of Paradise is a relatively frost sensitive Caesalpinia, and it is generally better to trim it close to ground in winter. This keeps it more compact without seeming to delay it in spring. The canes tend to freeze in all but the warmest areas, and even if they don’t, the new growth in April is somewhat ungainly. For this reason many gardeners cut the bush to the ground at the end of November, and it will grow back green and compact in mid spring.
