Eastern Coral Bean

Eastern Coral Bean (Erythrina herbacea) is in the Legumes family (Fabaceae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 2,047 research-grade flowering observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.

Nationally it blooms mainly from March to May, but timing varies a lot by state and elevation — see the table below.

When to photograph Eastern Coral Bean: observations by month (U.S.)

About Eastern Coral Bean

Erythrina herbacea, commonly known as the coral bean, Cherokee bean, Mamou plant in South Louisiana, red cardinal or cardinal spear, is a flowering shrub or small tree found throughout the southeastern United States and northeastern Mexico; it has also been reported from parts of Central America and, as an introduced species, from Pakistan. Various other systematic names have been used for this plant in the past, including Erythrina arborea, Erythrina hederifolia, Erythrina humilis, Erythrina rubicunda, Corallodendron...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.

Eastern Coral Bean by state

Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.

Related wildflowers (Legumes)

White CloverTrifolium repens

Red CloverTrifolium pratense

Texas bluebonnetLupinus texensis

Bird's-Foot TrefoilLotus corniculatus

Rose CloverTrifolium hirtum

Tomcat CloverTrifolium willdenovii

American hog-peanutAmphicarpaea bracteata

Purple CrownvetchSecurigera varia

Photography tips

• Photograph flowers on calm, overcast mornings to avoid wind blur and harsh shadows.
• Get low: a shallow depth of field (f/2.8–f/5.6) isolates a bloom against soft color.
• Stay on trails — trampling meadows kills plants and ruins next year's display.
• Try a kaleidoscope abstract of a single bloom with our online kaleidoscope tool.

FAQ