Bat's Wing Coral Tree (Erythrina vespertilio)

🌿 The Bat's Wing Coral Tree (Erythrina vespertilio), also known as the Grey Corkwood, is a member of the Fabaceae family native to the arid regions of northern and eastern Australia. This deciduous tree earns its common name from its distinctive grey-green leaves that resemble the outstretched wings of a bat. In its natural habitat, it thrives in dry woodlands and along watercourses, developing a striking architectural form with age. This is an intermediate-level plant that requires attentive care, especially during its active growing season. Here's an interesting fact: Indigenous Australians traditionally used the soft, corky bark and wood for making rafts and shields, as the timber is remarkably lightweight and buoyant.
FOLIAGE AND GROWTH HABIT
The Bat's Wing Coral Tree grows as an upright deciduous tree with a sculptural branching pattern. Its most distinctive feature is the unusual leaf shape—each leaf is deeply lobed with three leaflets that fan out in a way that mimics bat wings in flight. The foliage displays a beautiful grey-green to silvery-green colour with a slightly fuzzy texture, giving the plant a soft, velvety appearance when young. As the tree matures, it develops a somewhat gnarled, character-filled trunk with corky, fissured bark that adds to its ornamental appeal.
FLOWER DETAILS
During late winter to early spring, before the new leaves emerge, this coral tree produces spectacular bright red to orange-red flowers arranged in dense, elongated clusters. Each pea-shaped bloom has the typical legume flower structure with a prominent curved standard petal. The flowers have no noticeable fragrance but create a stunning visual display that stands out dramatically against bare branches. The tree flowers once annually during its dormant leafless period, which makes the blooms even more striking. To encourage flowering, provide the plant with a distinct dry rest period during winter, reduce watering significantly, and ensure it receives full sun exposure throughout the growing season. Mature specimens flower more reliably than younger plants.
CARE INSTRUCTIONS

🌞 Light: Full sun is essential for healthy growth and flowering. Requires at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight daily. Insufficient light leads to weak growth and poor flowering.
💧 Water: Water moderately during spring and summer growing season when soil is dry two inches down. Reduce watering dramatically in autumn and keep nearly dry during winter dormancy. Water from below or at soil level to avoid wetting foliage. Overwatering during dormancy causes root rot.
🌡️ Humidity: Thrives in low to average humidity, ideally 30-50%. Tolerates dry air well and does not require humidity boosts.
🪴 Soil: Requires very well-draining soil mix. Use cactus/succulent mix or add generous amounts of perlite, coarse sand, and pumice to standard potting soil. Soil must drain rapidly.
🏺 Potting: Use terracotta or unglazed ceramic pots with multiple drainage holes. Pot should be proportional to root system, typically 2-4 inches larger than root ball. Repot every 2-3 years in spring as growth resumes. This tree develops a taproot system and prefers deeper pots.
🌱 Growth rate: Moderate to fast during growing season. Can grow 30-60 cm in first year under ideal conditions, 60-120 cm in second year. Mature indoor specimens typically reach 1.5-3 metres tall, though can be kept smaller through pruning. In-ground trees grow much larger.
👩‍🌾 Fertilizing: Feed monthly during spring and summer with balanced liquid fertilizer diluted to half strength. Alternatively, use slow-release fertilizer formulated for flowering plants in early spring. Do not fertilize during autumn and winter dormancy.
🐾 Pet friendly: No. All parts of Erythrina species are toxic if ingested, containing alkaloids that can cause vomiting, diarrhea, drowsiness, and tremors in pets and humans. The seeds are particularly toxic. Wear gloves when handling as sap may cause skin irritation in sensitive individuals.

WHERE TO PUT IT
The Bat's Wing Coral Tree thrives in bright, sunny locations such as south-facing windows, sunrooms, or conservatories where it can receive maximum light. During summer, it benefits from being moved outdoors to a sunny patio or deck. This tree works well in minimalist or contemporary spaces where its architectural form can be appreciated as a specimen plant. It's suitable for living rooms, home offices, or entryways with abundant natural light. Do not place this plant in low-light areas, bathrooms, bedrooms with limited windows, or any location that doesn't provide strong, direct sun for most of the day. Keep away from children and pets due to toxicity.
common