Peacock flower (Caesalpinia pulcherrima)

Caesalpinia pulcherrima, peacock flower or pride of Barbados, is a garden shrub with flaming red-and-yellow flowers and long, red stamens that stand out like a peacock’s crest. It comes from Mexico and Central America and is grown in gardens and temple compounds across India. It is the national flower of Barbados.

Botanical name: Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) Sw.
Family: Fabaceae
Tamil: Rajamalli
Hindi: Guletura
Parts used: Flowers (garden)
Habit: Garden pride-of-Barbados; konrai is a shop word
Last updated: 2026-10-25

How to recognise Peacock flower

It is a shrub or small tree with feathery, twice-pinnate leaves of many small oval leaflets, and a few prickles on the stems.

Flowers grow in upright spikes at the branch tips: crinkled petals in red edged with yellow, or pure yellow in some forms, with very long red stamens projecting well beyond the petals.

The pod is flat, thin and brown, splitting when dry.

In South India it flowers almost all year, with heavy flushes in the warm months.

Gulmohar, Delonix regia, is a large tree with scarlet flowers and long, woody pods.

Traditional use of Peacock flower

Gardening and worship

It is planted as an ornamental and its flowers are offered in temples in South India, where it is called rajamalli or mayilkonrai.

South Indian garden and temple practice

Modern notes on Peacock flower

Gardeners value it because it flowers almost continuously in warm climates and tolerates drought.

Butterflies and sunbirds visit the flowers. The long stamens brush pollen onto large butterflies as they feed.

Peacock flower safety

The seeds are not food. Keep children from chewing the pods and seeds.

Ecology and sourcing

It is native to the tropics of the Americas and widely cultivated across the world’s warm regions.

It seeds freely and occasionally escapes in disturbed areas, but it is rarely a serious weed in India.

Cutting it back after flowering keeps it bushy, and it grows readily from seed.

Related plants

Also in Fabaceae

Questions about Peacock flower

Is Peacock flower gulmohar?

No. Gulmohar is Delonix regia, a large tree.

What older names does Caesalpinia pulcherrima go by?

Poinciana pulcherrima.

Why is Peacock flower called peacock flower?

The long red stamens look like a peacock’s crest.

Sources

Educational page about a plant. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not an offer to sell. Traditional use is historical. If you need care, ask a licensed clinician. Questions: hello@meevamed.com.