Erythrina variegata, commonly known as the Indian Coral Tree or Tiger's Claw, is a fast-growing tropical legume native to coastal regions from eastern Africa through India to the Pacific. Known for its spectacular scarlet-orange flowers and drought tolerance, it is widely cultivated in agroforestry systems for shade and fodder production. Seeds have a hard, water-impervious seed coat requiring pre-treatment to achieve reliable germination within 8-10 days.
Before sowing
Recommended method: Soak seeds in hot water at 80°C for 10 minutes followed by overnight soaking in tepid water. Alternatively, soak in warm water for 24 hours with daily water changes, or mechanically scarify with sandpaper before soaking.
Sowing
What to expect
Tips
Use fresh seeds whenever possible as older seeds develop increasingly harder seed coats and may require longer pre-treatment or germination periods. Hot water pre-treatment (80°C for 10 minutes) is the most effective and practical method for breaking dormancy. Maintain substrate at medium moisture, never waterlogged. Provide warmth at 25°C and bright indirect light for optimal germination. Seedlings reach transplantable size (30-50 cm) in 8-10 weeks with proper care. Soaking treatment duration may extend to 12 hours for seeds older than 3 years.
Sources: Useful Tropical Plants Database, HDRA Technical Series, Winrock International, Feedipedia, scientific germination studies
