Caesalpinia gilliesii (Wall. ex Hook.) Benth. (Leguminosae-Caesalpinoideae) Bird of Paradise Bush A deciduous or evergreen shrub or small tree with ferny leaves and racemes of yellow flowers with long red stamens, native of Uruguay and Argentina, flowering in spring and summer. Shrub fast-growing to 3m. Young shoots glandular-hairy. Leaves c. 20cm. Petals c. 2cm; stamens to 7cm long. An exotic plant to attract hummingbirds; for any soil, with heat and water in summer, drier in winter Will usually resprout if cut down by frost in winter.
Cultivation Grow in light, well-drained soil, in full sun. Best kept rather dry in winter to avoid waterlogging; will normally resprout if cut to the ground by frost.
Height to 3m (10ft); spread to 2m (6½ft). USZ 9–11, surviving -6.5°C (20°F) of overnight frost. Requires occasional heavy watering in summer.