14 Thursday, July 10, 1997 Pahrump Valley Gazette
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It's hot. The scorching sun and drying winds dehy-
drate plants. Leaves wither and tear, flowering subsides
as the plant focuses its energy on survival. But wait,
look at that bush with the exotic yellow flowers ac-
cented by the bright red
stamens. The bushes are
all over the valley, bloom-
ing happily in yards, gar-
dens and even empty lots.
What is this flowering
plant that laughs in the sun
and dances in the wind?
It's a Bird of Paradise
(Poinciana gilliesii). The
tropical bird-like look of
the brilliant stamen ex-
plains the plant's common name. Like birds, the
delicate flowers appear to fly with the wind. Hum-
mingbirds, attracted by the red stamen, are often
seen fluttering near the flower.
The plant's fragile ap-
pearance masks a tough
survivor. The strong, slen-
der trunk hosts a multitude
of branches adorned by
finely cut, medium green
leaflets well adapted to the
wind. Once the root sys-
tem is well established, the
Bird of Paradise can sur-
vive desert conditions.
However, it requires peri-
odic slow, deep watering
to produce and maintain
its delightful flowers.
Asleep during the win-
ter, the Bird of Paradise
awakens in early spring and begins to set buds soon after
the leaves appear. The flowers are among many that
bloom in the spring. This exotic beauty moves to center
stage as rising temperatures discourage the less hardy.
Displayed on branches
six to eight feet tall, the
striking flowers are easy
to view while driving or
walking. The plant grows
to full viewing height
within a season or two if it
receives sufficient water.
Adapted to a wide va-
riety of soils, the Bird of
Paradise will bloom where
it is planted. It basks in
full sun and remains graceful in the reflected sun of
southern and western exposures. Light shade won't
daunt this summer star, but she will be unhappy in full
shade.
Native to South America and Mexico, the resilient
plant moved north to the Southwestern deserts where it
adapted so well many people believe it to be indigenous.
It takes a rest during our cold winters. This is a good
time to trim it for shape or to cut it back if you want a
bushier plant. Other than trimming and removing the
brown seed pods to encourage continuous bloom, the
plant requires little maintenance.
The Bird of Paradise is better left on the plant. The
joy is in the seeing, not the smelling, of this flower. The
poisonous seed pods, with a distinctly unpleasant odor,
are not friendly to the olfactory senses
Mine make up for the odor (only on the pods and at
close proximity) by providing a visual delight along the
west side of my driveway. They provide light shade for
the flower beds between each plant. The moist beds
provide a perfect home for fallen seeds.
In-Depth Factual
Coverage of the
issues that
affect you
and your
family
In Nye
County.
I try to pot starts for
my friends when I remove
infant plants from the beds.
The Bird of Paradise re-
seeds so readily, you
should have no problem
obtaining some from a
friend of neighbor with a
plant. You can also pur-
chase container plants
from local nurseries.
This is the plant for
people who want a fuss
free landscape or who
travel frequently. If the
plant is neglected, it will
survive. Flowers will be
fewer and smaller or non-
existent and the plant may
go dormant. However, it
will revive when watering
is resumed.
The Bird of Paradise
"Country Fun Corral
Fun for the Entire Famil
Open 7 Days A Week
Go.Harts-
Miniature Golf- Arcade"
Serving all of Pahrump, ye,
Es r F_. Death
makes an excellent specimen plant and is a good choice
to fill a bare spot in your landscape. It works well in
mass plantings and in combination with other desert
plants.
The Red Bird of Paradise (Poinciana pulcherrima)
is the flashiest member of the Leguminosae family.
Like its sister plant, the Bird of Paradise, this one is
exotic. It wears even more brilliant colors in an orange-
red hue accented with yellow. It has more lush, medium
green foliage and often a protective growth of prickly
branches.
Native to Mexico and the West Indies, this plant is
not as vigorous as its big sister. In our climate, the Red
Bird of Paradise is shrublike usually reaching a maxi-
mum of three to four feet. It makes a rich color statemer. ,
in a mass planting. It's an eye-catching specimen plant
and livens up a rock garden or desert planting.
Not winter hardy, try one before you decide on mass
planting. To date, I haven't been able to nurse a Red
Bird of Paradise through a winter. However, the color is
such a joy to me, it's worth the investment to treat it as
an annual.
In the southern end of the valley, gardeners have
had more success. One gardener on Calvada Blvd. has
a gorgeous plant that returns every year. Her plant has
the protection of a brick wall, and she cuts it back and
covers it with a container when it goes dormant.
Both of these birds flourish in the sun, enriching the
drabbest landscape. To color your summer bright, give
a Bird of Paradise a home.
BIRD OF PARADISE-the common exotic.
Tnis Weekend
HIGHLANDERS
KAROKE by
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"rue & Thur
7p.m. - 1 1p.m.
ul$OU
DJ's on
Monday Creative
& Wednesdays'
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7p.m. - Until -?
Fri - Sat-Sun
After Band
Until - ?
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