grow from 10 to 25 feet improbable with ferned leaflets and 3- to 6 - inch clusters offragrant scandalmongering peak , the Mexican bird of paradise ( Caesalpinia mexicana ) remains evergreen in frost - free areas . Perennial in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zone 9 through 10 , the shrub or little tree diagram may drop its leaves during winter in the colder areas of its range . It can also survive in part of USDA zone 8 , but often break down back to the ground there over winter , before growing up to 6 feet tall during summertime . Because this " bird ’s " seeds are hard - shell , they require pretreatment .
Gather Seeds
After the Mexican bird of paradise tree diagram has finished blossom in autumn , look for 3- to 6 - inch pod on its twigs . Once those pods turn tan and brittle , they twist and spring open to hurl their content off , so attempt to harvest the seeds just before that happens .
After you crack launch the pods , distribute the seeds on paper towels until they are thoroughly dry before put in them in a lidded glass jar in your refrigerator . Becausethese seeds are vicious , make certain that they are intelligibly labeled .
Prepare Seeds
In the spring , about six weeks before the last frost date for your domain , take away the seed from the refrigerator and scratch or nick each one to enable it to souse up water . To inscribe a seed , rub its rounded edge with a file or emery control board until a snowy spot shows through the brown shell . To nick it rather , utilize needle - nosed plyers to hold the cum still on top of a cutting board , and break off a lilliputian piece out of its rounded edge with the tip of a public-service corporation tongue . * * Always scratch or chip a seed on the side diametrical itshilum , * * the mark or indentation indicating where the seed was formerly attached to its seed stalk inside the seedcase .
Afterwards , knock off the seed into a container of warm water for 24 hour . They should subside to the bottom and well up somewhat in size of it . You may need to discard any that did n’t go under , as they are n’t likely to be executable . For those that did n’t well up , render scratching or nick them deeply until they do .
Sow Seeds
Fill a container that has drainage holes to about 1 in scant of its top with a moist compounding of 1 part come - sow admixture and 1 part sand or perlite . If you prefer , mix 1 part cactus potting mix and 1 part perlite rather . Space the seeds about 2 inch asunder on the surface of that admixture and cover them with 1/4 to 1/2 column inch of it . After top the container with plastic wrapper , place it on a seedling heating plant lusterlessness , if necessary , to raise the soil temperature to about 77 degrees Fahrenheit . Ensure mixture stay moist . The source should sprout within one to four week .
Raise Seedlings
Once seed have germinated , hit the plastic wrap and place the container on a cheery windowsill or under a grow light that run for 14 to 16 hours per day . Keep the seedlings ' mix lightly damp .
When seedlings have at least four pamphlet in addition to their two source ( original ) foliage , transpose them into private 4 - in green goddess with drainage holes , that are filled with cactus potting dirt . tip them once every two weeks with a plant food at half strength . For a0 - 0 - 1 organic seaweed photographic emulsion , for illustration , mix 1 tablespoonful of the emulsion into 1 gallon of water . When the seedling are one month old , increase the amount to the full 2 tablespoons of emulsion per 1 gallon of water .
After the last spring icing , adapt the seedlings to outdoor shape before setting them in the primer coat . Place their pots in the shade first and edge them gradually into a sunnier location . select a website with well - drained grime in full or fond sun , and space them at least 6 feet aside from each other or from other plants .
