Living in Mexico during the winter months has opened my eyes to many new and interesting plants. The other day I purchased a "tree" from the local nursery because I loved the color of the leaves. The only thing the proprietor could tell me about the tree was the common name "critrina". I have looked everywhere and can not find any information and also can not find a match after looking at many tropical plant sites. Can you help me? I have attached a photo. The leaves come in sets of 3. They are large, heart-shaped and the vein area is a bright yellow . It looks like a very soft bark and probably fast growing. I am in the state of Nayarit - a little north of Puerta Vallarta.
It looks like Erythrina variegata. They're truly lovely trees, and even more so when they bloom because the flowers are bright red. That one in particular is very popular as a boulevard tree across Latin America. As long as they're given enough water and a fairly sunny location, Erythrina are incredibly fast growers. They're also very easy to propagate - a cut branch will root directly in soil with very little fuss. In some parts of Ecuador, they're used as "living fenceposts" because they root and grow so quickly and easily and with such little care.
Yes, that is it. Thanks - I was getting ready to put it in a pot and now I just need to find a place large enough for a striking, fast-growing, sun lover. Do you know what they are usually called in Mexico? Muchas gracias.
I suspect it's the same name that's used throughout Spanish-speaking Latin America - Critrina or Eritrina, or perhaps Habas de Coral. Specific members of the genus (ie E. cristo-galli) are also called Ceibo - you may find that people in your area refer to your tree as Ceibo Rayado or something similar; I have red-leaf Erythrina tree on my boulevard that my neighbours call Ceibo Rojo.
