Brisbane tree guide

Common coral tree

Erythrina × sykesii · also called Coral tree, Thorny coral tree, Hybrid coral tree

Common coral tree is a broad, spreading tree with prickly branches and upright spikes of scarlet pea flowers in late winter and spring. It is a garden hybrid that sets no seed, yet broken branches and twigs take root easily, so it has escaped along creeks in New South Wales and has recently become naturalised in South East Queensland. Brisbane City Council lists it as a weed.

Exotic
On Brisbane's weed list
6 to 15 m tall
Flowers August to November

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Common coral tree, from Wikimedia Commons — Photo: Kahuroa, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Common coral tree at a glance

Height: 6 to 15 m
Leaves: Deciduous
Flowers: Red, August to November
Origin: Garden hybrid of two introduced coral trees, probably raised in Australia or New Zealand
Family: Fabaceae

How to identify a common coral tree

Common coral tree has a broad, spreading crown, and its trunk and branches are studded with sharp, dark prickles. Each leaf is made of three broad leaflets, roughly triangular or diamond-shaped and 7 to 20 cm long, held on a long stalk, and the tree drops its leaves for part of the year. In late winter and spring it carries upright spikes, up to 30 cm long, of scarlet pea-shaped flowers. It does not set seed pods, which helps separate it from one of its parents, Erythrina lysistemon. The native bat's wing coral tree is a look-alike, but its stems are heavily armed and its leaflets are lobed.

Growing a common coral tree in Brisbane

Common coral tree was planted widely in gardens and streets in warm parts of eastern Australia because it grows so easily from cuttings. In South East Queensland it has recently become naturalised and is seen as an emerging environmental weed, mostly along creeks and rivers, where floods carry broken branches downstream to take root. Dumped prunings also start new plants in bushland. It is a poor choice near waterways, and its prickly, brittle branches make it awkward over driveways, paths and play areas.

What to watch out for

Its prickly branches snap easily, and fallen limbs or even twigs can take root, which is how it spreads along creeks after floods. Keep prunings and fallen branches out of bushland and waterways. Brisbane City Council lists it as a weed, though there is no legal requirement attached. Across the border in NSW, escaped trees have blocked creeks, made bank erosion worse and caused other trees to fall over.

Spines. The trunk and branches carry sharp, dark prickles, so wear thick gloves when pruning.
Brittle branches. Branches break easily in storms, and broken pieces, even twigs, can take root where they land.

Pruning and care

If you keep one, prune with thick gloves on, because the trunk and branches carry sharp prickles. Take out weak, split or storm-damaged branches before they fall, cutting just outside the branch collar. Keep every piece of pruning out of bushland, creeks and loose green waste piles, since even small sections can grow into new trees. Pull out suckers as they appear. Removing a large coral tree means dealing with the stump and suckers as well, or it will simply regrow.

Common coral tree: your questions

Short answers, from the sources below.

Back to the tree guide

Is common coral tree a weed in Brisbane?

Brisbane City Council lists common coral tree as a weed and notes it has become naturalised and is emerging as an environmental weed in South East Queensland. It has no legal declaration, so no legal requirement is attached.

Does the coral tree have thorns?

Yes. The common coral tree's trunk and branches carry sharp, dark prickles, so take care when pruning or removing it, and keep it well away from paths and play areas.

How does common coral tree spread if it has no seeds?

It is a sterile garden hybrid, but its branches break easily and pieces as small as twigs can take root. Floods, storms and dumped garden waste carry those pieces into creeks and bushland.

When does the coral tree flower in Brisbane?

Brisbane City Council gives late winter to spring for common coral tree, when it carries upright spikes of scarlet pea flowers. NSW records describe flowering mainly in winter and early spring.

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Sources and credits

Photo: Kahuroa, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Checked October 2026. Weed listings and council rules change: check the council's and the Queensland Government's pages before you act.