Coral Bean (Erythrina fusca)

Family: Fabaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Other common names include purple coraltree, gallito, bois immortelle, and bucayo among others. Commonly found in South America, Erythrina fusca or Coral Bean is an easy-to-grow flowering deciduous tree with spiny bark and light orange flowers. Its crown is usually rounded and it grows up to 15 m tall. It is tolerant of flooding and salinity thus can be grown under coastal conditions.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Leaves, Flowers

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Edible portion: Leaves, Flowers, Vegetable. Young leaves - raw in salads or cooked and used as a vegetable. Flowers - cooked and eaten as a vegetable. — Edible portion: Leaves, Flowers, Vegetable.; Young leaves - raw in salads or cooked and used as a vegetable.; Flowers - cooked and eaten as a vegetable.

Habitat & North American Range

A pioneer species, most commonly found on the outer margins of swamps on sites that are not permanently flooded. Coastal freshwater swamps. (Zone 10)