Fall Deals:
15% OFF Strawberry Trees - Barbados Cherries - Papayas
15% Off Vitex & Sweet Almond
Roselle & Egyptian Spinach - Buy One Get One Free
🚚 Shipping Update:
We’re now shipping nationwide across the continental U.S. again! 🌱
📦 Please note: Shipping to California remains paused due to agricultural regulations.
🔥 Coral Bean Seeds (Erythrina herbacea) – Wild Beauty in Bloom
Looking to add a pop of fire-red color and ecological function to your food forest or native garden? 🌿 The Coral Bean, also known as Cherokee Bean or Red Cardinal, is a striking native shrub with show-stopping scarlet blooms, bright red seeds, and the ability to enrich your soil through nitrogen fixation. Beloved by hummingbirds, tied to Indigenous traditions, and perfect for permaculture landscapes, this plant is more than ornamental — it’s purposeful.
🌿 Quick Facts Table
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Botanical Name | Erythrina herbacea |
| Plant Type | Deciduous Shrub / Herbaceous Perennial, Nitrogen-Fixing Legume |
| Sale Size | Seeds |
| Mature Height & Width | 4–6 ft tall (up to 12 ft in tropics) x 3–5 ft wide |
| USDA Zones | 7–10 (dies back in frost, re-sprouts in spring) |
| Sun Requirements | Full Sun to Part Shade |
| Cold Hardiness | Root hardy to ~10–15°F |
| Growth Habit | Multi-stemmed, upright, sprawling shrub |
| Spacing Requirements | 3–5 ft apart |
| Ecological Role | Nitrogen fixer — improves soil fertility |
🌸 Flower & Seed Details
- Bloom Season: Late winter to early spring (before leaf flush)
- Flowers: Upright spikes of scarlet tubular blooms, 8–12" long
- Pollinators: Hummingbirds, butterflies, and native bees flock to the nectar
- Seed Pods: Glossy black pods up to 8.5" long with bright red seeds
- ⚠️ Warning: Seeds are toxic if eaten — for ornamental/ecological use only
🌱 Top Benefits and Uses
- Pollinator Magnet: Hummingbirds and butterflies can’t resist the nectar-rich flowers
- Nitrogen Fixer: Supports soil fertility by fixing atmospheric nitrogen, aiding nearby fruit trees and companions
- Native Beauty: Adds biodiversity and tropical flair to Florida gardens
- Cultural Legacy: Known as Cherokee Bean, valued in Indigenous medicine and ceremony
- Low Maintenance: Drought tolerant once established
- Wildlife Habitat: Provides nectar, cover, and seasonal resources for pollinators and songbirds
- Educational Value: Excellent for teaching native ecology and cultural history
📖 Historical & Cultural Significance
Cherokee Bean is more than just ornamental — it carries a heritage of healing and symbolism:
- Medicinal Uses: Cherokee, Creek, and Chickasaw healers prepared roots and bark in small, controlled doses to treat colds, fevers, and digestive troubles.
- Ceremonial Importance: Seeds were strung into rosaries, necklaces, and protective charms for ritual use.
- Practical Uses: Seeds, due to their alkaloid content, were historically used as fish poison and rodenticides in Mexico and the American South.
⚠️ Note: This information is for historical reference only. Coral Bean is not safe for internal use.
🌼 Ornamental & Container Gardening Notes
- Leaf Appeal: Dark green trifoliate leaves follow the early flowers, creating a lush seasonal backdrop.
- Landscape Use: Striking accent in pollinator gardens, food forests, and native plantings.
- Ecological Role: Functions as a support species, enriching soil with nitrogen for fruit trees and perennials.
- Container Growing: Can be grown in large pots outdoors; prune after frost and mulch for winter protection.
- Indoor Growing: Not suitable for indoors due to toxicity and high sunlight needs.
🌿 Best Practices for Planting and Care
🌞 Where to Plant
- Prefers full sun for maximum flowering, but tolerates part shade.
- Grows best in sandy or loamy, well-drained soils.
🌱 Planting Instructions
- From Seed: Scarify (scratch) the seed coat and soak overnight before sowing ½–1" deep.
- From Container:
- Dig a hole slightly wider than the rootball, same depth.
- Backfill with compost + native soil, packing firmly.
- Top-dress with biochar, compost, azomite, and other organic nutrients.
- Follow our “High & Tight” planting method → GreenDreams YouTube Planting Video
💧 Watering
- Water daily during establishment.
- Weekly watering for the first year.
- Once established, very drought tolerant.
🍂 Seasonal Maintenance
- Zones 7–8: Dies back each winter, returns in spring.
- Zones 9–10: May remain semi-evergreen.
- Prune brittle stems after frost or flowering.
🌳 Mulching
- Mulch with hardwood chips, keeping mulch a few inches away from the base to prevent rot.
⚠️ Cautions
- Toxicity: Seeds contain alkaloids toxic to humans, pets, and livestock.
- Fragility: Brittle stems can break in high winds — prune as needed.
🌟 Is This Plant Right for You?
✅ Ideal For:
- Native plant enthusiasts
- Food forest & permaculture growers (nitrogen support species)
- Pollinator gardens
- Sandy or coastal soils
- Hummingbird lovers
❌ Not Ideal For:
- Families with small children or curious pets (seed safety risk)
- Clay-heavy or poorly drained soils
- Climates below USDA Zone 7
❓ FAQ
Q: Is Coral Bean a nitrogen fixer?
A: Yes! As a legume, Coral Bean hosts root bacteria that fix nitrogen, improving soil fertility and supporting companion plants.
Q: Are Coral Bean seeds edible?
A: No — they are toxic. Use seeds only for ornamental planting or craft purposes.
Q: How do I germinate Coral Bean seeds?
A: Scarify the seed coat and soak overnight. Germination typically occurs in 2–4 weeks.
Q: Will Coral Bean survive winter?
A: Yes, in USDA Zones 7–10. In colder Zones 7–8, it dies back and re-sprouts each spring.
Q: Can Coral Bean grow in containers?
A: Yes, in large pots outdoors. Protect roots with mulch and cut back stems in winter.
📦 Shipping & Handling Notes
- Best suited for shipping to Florida, the Southeast, and Texas.
- Ships nationwide, but northern/western buyers may need to allow for recovery from transit stress.
- ⚠️ Heat/Cold Disclaimer: Buyer discretion advised during extreme weather. GreenDreams is not responsible for cold/heat damage in transit.
- All orders ship Mondays via UPS Ground.
🏡 Local Pickup
📍 GreenDreams Nursery & Farm
18709 US Hwy. 41, Spring Hill, FL 34610
Open Tues–Fri 9AM–5PM | Sat 8AM–3PM
🌱 Visit us to explore a wide selection of native, edible, and medicinal plants!
🛒 Ready to Bring Fire & Fertility to Your Garden?
Grow Coral Bean from seed today — a nitrogen-fixing, pollinator-attracting native that lights up your garden with scarlet blooms and enriches your soil!
IMPORTANT INFORMATION BEFORE PURCHASING LIVE PLANTS:
*Please be advised that our online store selections are NOT available for pickup at our retail location in Spring Hill, Florida.
Inventory for our online store is located at a separate facility and are priced and handled exclusively for packaging & shipping.
Click here to learn more about our Spring Hill, FL retail nursery location, including countless more nursery selections ready for pickup - larger sizes and wider variety of plants not suitable for nationwide delivery.
1. Shipping Stress: Transportation can be stressful for plants, particularly when they spend several days in a confined, dark environment. It’s common for plants to experience leaf drop during this period. Rest assured, most plants typically recover quickly and thrive with minimal aftercare. However, some may need extra attention, love, and care, requiring appropriate watering and exposure to gentle light post-unboxing.
2. Potential Physical Damage: Despite our dedicated efforts to ensure that your plants are securely packaged, they may incur damage during shipping and handling by UPS. Rest assured, our shipping team is committed to packing your selections with utmost care and precision to minimize any potential harm.
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For significant box damage, please reach out to UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
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For minor damages, such as a broken branch or stem, we advise allowing the plant time to recover and regenerate with proper care and attention.
3. Long-Distance Shipping Considerations: Orders shipped over long distances, particularly to the western US, may take 3 - 5 business days to arrive due to various factors, including agricultural inspections in Arizona, California, and Texas. Such extended transit times can be particularly challenging for tender, young plants, affecting their quality due to prolonged confinement.
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We take additional measures during packaging to facilitate a swift recovery of the plants upon unboxing.
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Initial extra care and attention might be required over the first few weeks post-transport.
For further guidance, kindly review our detailed policies on returns and refunds, as well as our comprehensive plant care guide. We appreciate your understanding and patience in nurturing your new plants.
🌿 Important Shipping Information
Please take a moment to review our shipping protocols designed to ensure your plants arrive in optimal condition.
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Countdown Clock: At the top of our online store, you'll notice a countdown clock. This tool helps communicate our weekly shipping schedule, providing clarity on when you can expect your orders to be dispatched.
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Shipping Schedule: Our nursery, located in the heart of Central Florida, ships orders once weekly, every Monday. This is a strategic decision to prevent packages from being stationary over the weekends, ensuring that our plants travel as swiftly as possible across the country, even reaching as far as California.
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Shipping Method: At present, we offer ground shipping rates to meet various needs while maintaining the well-being of our plants during transit.
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Our Dedicated Team: We are a boutique nursery with a passionate team. Our members wear many hats, contributing to shipping, nursery operations, and engaging in valuable local projects. As we blossom and expand, rest assured that enhancing and streamlining our processes remains a priority to serve you better
Terms and Conditions for Purchasing Live Plants
1. Understanding of Shipping Stress
By purchasing live plants from our store, the customer acknowledges that transportation can be stressful for plants. It is common for plants to undergo leaf drop or experience other temporary issues during shipping. However, it is understood that most plants recover quickly with adequate care and attention post-shipping.
2. Awareness of Potential Physical Damage
Customers acknowledge that despite our best efforts in packaging, there may be occurrences of damage during shipping and handling. For substantial damages to the package, customers agree to contact UPS within 30 days to initiate a claim.
3. Acknowledgement of Long-Distance Shipping Considerations
Customers recognize that shipments, especially those directed to the western US, may be subjected to longer shipping durations of 3-5 business days. Customers agree to provide necessary care to the plants, recognizing that the quality of the plants may be affected due to prolonged shipping times.
4. Agreement with Shipping Information and Schedule
Customers, by making a purchase, have reviewed and agreed upon our shipping protocols and schedules. They acknowledge the presence of a countdown clock on the website and our once-weekly shipping policy every Monday, recognizing the rationale behind avoiding weekend layovers for the plants.
5.Extreme Weather Conditions
Customers acknowledge that our store is not responsible for damage or loss of live plants due to extreme weather conditions during transit and delivery. This includes exposure to cold or freezing temperatures during the winter months and extreme heat during the summer. We provide tracking information when orders are processed every Monday to ensure customers are aware of the delivery schedule. It is the customer's responsibility to prevent packages from being left outside in conditions that may cause damage. Our store does not accept responsibility for any adverse effects caused by weather conditions beyond our control.
6. No Refund Policy
Customers agree that refunds are only processed under exceptional circumstances. Our store will not be held responsible for poor plant choices relative to location suitability, extreme conditions during and/or post-shipment, and improper post-purchase plant care.
7. Responsibility of Care
Upon purchase, customers agree to assume full responsibility for the ongoing care of the plants. This includes, but is not limited to, appropriate watering, exposure to suitable light, and adherence to specific care instructions pertinent to each plant type.
8. Consent
By proceeding with this purchase, customers consent to all the terms and conditions stated above, confirming understanding and agreement to all stipulations mentioned.
These terms and conditions aim to ensure clarity, mutual understanding, and agreement between the seller and the customer to facilitate a smooth transaction and foster a positive customer experience.
