Poró
Erythrina poeppigiana
Native Region
Central America and northern South America
Max Height
25-35 meters (80-115 feet)
Family
Fabaceae
Conservation
LC
Uses
Distribution in Costa Rica
Legend
Elevation
800-2000m
Regions
- San José
- Alajuela
- Heredia
- Cartago
- Puntarenas
Season
Flowering
Jan-Mar
Fruiting
Apr-May
Poró
Poró (Erythrina poeppigiana), also known as the Coral Bean Tree or Mountain Immortelle, is one of Costa Rica's most beloved and economically important trees. Its spectacular orange-red flowers herald the dry season, and its role as a shade tree has been inseparable from Costa Rican coffee culture for over a century.
Quick Reference
- Scientific Name
- Erythrina poeppigiana
- Family
- Fabaceae (Legume)
- Max Height
- 25-35 m (80-115 ft)
- Trunk Diameter
- Up to 1.5 m
- Conservation
- Least Concern
- Flowering
- January–April
iNaturalist Observations
Community-powered species data
1847
Observations
186
Observers
📸 Photo Gallery
Photos sourced from iNaturalist's community science database. Browse all 1,800+ observations →↗
Taxonomy & Classification
The genus name Erythrina derives from the Greek erythros meaning "red," referring to the brilliant flower color. The species name poeppigiana honors Eduard Friedrich Poeppig (1798–1868), the German botanist and explorer who extensively studied South American flora.
Common Names
| Language | Common Name(s) | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Spanish (Costa Rica) | Poró, Poró Gigante | Traditional local name |
| Spanish (General) | Pito, Búcaro, Cachimbo | Regional variants |
| English | Coral Bean Tree, Mountain Immortelle | Flower color reference |
| Bribri | Kó | Indigenous Costa Rican name |
| Portuguese | Mulungu, Eritrina | Brazilian names |
Physical Description
Overall Form
The Poró is a large deciduous tree with a distinctive spreading crown and characteristic flowering habit that makes it one of the most visually striking trees in Costa Rica during the dry season.
Distinctive Features
Trunk & Bark
- Bark: Light gray to brownish, becoming furrowed with age
- Spines: Young branches bear curved thorns (often lost in mature trees)
- Wood: Soft, lightweight, and pale-colored
- Buttresses: Moderate buttressing at base in older specimens
Leaves
- Type: Trifoliate (3 leaflets per leaf)
- Leaflet Shape: Broadly ovate to rhomboid
- Size: Central leaflet 10-20 cm long, lateral leaflets smaller
- Texture: Smooth, thin, light green
- Timing: Deciduous in dry season, falling before flowering
Flowers
- Color: Brilliant orange to coral-red
- Shape: Papilionaceous (butterfly-shaped), typical of legumes
- Size: 4-6 cm long
- Arrangement: Dense terminal racemes
- Season: January to April (peak flowering)
- Pollination: Birds, especially hummingbirds
Fruits & Seeds
- Type: Legume pod
- Size: 15-30 cm long
- Color: Dark brown when mature
- Seeds: Bright red with black spot (toxic)
- Dispersal: Gravity, sometimes water
The seeds of Poró contain erythrina alkaloids and are toxic if ingested. Despite their attractive appearance, they should never be eaten. The seeds have caused poisoning incidents in children and livestock.
Distribution & Habitat
Native Range
Geographic Distribution
Distribution in Costa Rica
The Poró is found throughout Costa Rica from sea level to approximately 2,000 meters elevation. It is particularly abundant in the Central Valley and coffee-growing regions.
| Province | Prevalence | Notable Locations |
|---|---|---|
| San José | Very Common | Throughout Central Valley |
| Alajuela | Very Common | Coffee zones, Poás, Grecia |
| Heredia | Very Common | Barva, Santa Bárbara |
| Cartago | Common | Turrialba, Orosi Valley |
| Guanacaste | Moderate | Highlands, not dry lowlands |
| Puntarenas | Common | Mountain zones, Monteverde |
| Limón | Moderate | Turrialba Valley, cacao regions |
Preferred Habitat
- Elevation: 400-2,000 m above sea level (optimal)
- Climate: Tropical wet and premontane life zones
- Rainfall: 1,500-4,000 mm annually
- Temperature: 16-26°C average
- Soil: Deep, fertile, well-drained volcanic soils
- Light: Full sun to partial shade
Ecological Significance
Nitrogen Fixation
As a legume, Poró forms symbiotic relationships with Rhizobium bacteria in its root nodules, converting atmospheric nitrogen into plant-available forms. A single mature Poró tree can fix 150-300 kg of nitrogen per hectare per year, significantly enriching the soil beneath it.
Wildlife Interactions
Pollinators
The brilliant flowers attract numerous bird species:
- Hummingbirds: Primary pollinators, including Rufous-tailed and Green-crowned Brilliant
- Baltimore Orioles: Important visitors during migration
- Tanagers: Scarlet-thighed and other species
- Bananaquits: Frequent nectar feeders
Seed Dispersers & Herbivores
- Parrots: White-fronted and other species feed on seeds
- Squirrels: Cache and disperse seeds
- Insects: Various beetles and caterpillars feed on foliage
- Howler Monkeys: Occasionally eat young leaves
Ecosystem Services
Cultural & Economic Importance
The Coffee Connection
Poró: The Heart of Costa Rican Coffee
For over a century, Poró has been the quintessential shade tree in Costa Rica's coffee plantations. The traditional "café bajo sombra" (shade-grown coffee) system relies heavily on Poró for its multiple benefits: shade regulation, nitrogen input, organic mulch from fallen leaves, and protection from temperature extremes.
Benefits for Coffee
- Optimal Shade: 40-60% canopy cover ideal for arabica
- Nitrogen Boost: Reduces need for synthetic fertilizers
- Leaf Mulch: Fallen leaves add organic matter
- Temperature Buffer: Protects from frost and heat
- Moisture Retention: Reduces irrigation needs
- Pest Control: Supports beneficial insects and birds
Agroforestry Systems
The Poró integrates into multiple farming systems:
- Coffee-Poró: Traditional Central Valley system
- Cacao-Poró: Caribbean lowland plantations
- Silvopastoral: Shade for cattle pastures
- Living Fences: Property boundaries and windbreaks
- Alley Cropping: Rows between annual crops
Cultural Traditions
Traditional Uses
| Use Category | Application | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Living Fences | Property boundaries | Stakes root easily and grow into trees |
| Firewood | Cooking fuel | Burns readily though not long-lasting |
| Medicine | Traditional remedies | Bark tea for fever, skin conditions |
| Ornamental | Urban landscaping | Popular for spectacular flowering |
| Fodder | Animal feed | Leaves fed to cattle and goats |
| Green Manure | Soil improvement | Pruned branches composted for fertilizer |
Traditional & Medicinal Uses
Ethnobotanical Applications
The following information is provided for educational purposes only. Traditional uses should not replace professional medical advice. Some parts of Erythrina species are toxic.
Conservation Status
Current Assessment
Conservation Status
- IUCN Red List
- Least Concern
- Population Trend
- Stable
- Threats
- Habitat conversion, sun coffee
- Protection
- Common in agroforestry systems
Threats & Challenges
Historic Decline
- Sun Coffee Movement: 1970s-1990s saw widespread removal of shade trees
- Urbanization: Central Valley expansion displaced coffee farms
- Monoculture Pressure: Economic incentives for higher-density planting
- Climate Change: Shifting suitable zones for coffee cultivation
Recovery Factors
- Shade Coffee Premium: Market incentives for biodiversity-friendly coffee
- Carbon Credits: Agroforestry systems gaining climate finance
- Certification Programs: Rainforest Alliance, Bird Friendly standards
- Cultural Identity: Poró recognized as integral to Costa Rican heritage
Conservation Opportunities
- Support shade-grown coffee certification programs
- Maintain living fences on farms and properties
- Include Poró in reforestation and restoration projects
- Promote agroforestry education and extension
- Document and preserve traditional knowledge about the species
- Monitor for pests and diseases affecting the species
Cultivation & Propagation
Growing Poró
Propagation Methods
From Cuttings (Most Common)
- Select mature branches 30-60 cm long, 3-5 cm diameter
- Make clean diagonal cut at base
- Plant directly in prepared hole (30-50 cm deep)
- Water well and stake if needed
- Roots develop within 2-4 weeks
- Success rate: 80-95%
From Seeds
- Scarify seed coat (nick with file or soak in hot water)
- Plant in nursery bags with well-drained soil
- Keep moist but not waterlogged
- Germination in 2-3 weeks
- Transplant when 30-50 cm tall
- Note: Seeds are toxic—handle carefully
Growing Conditions
- Sun: Full sun to partial shade
- Soil: Fertile, well-drained, pH 5.5-7.0
- Water: Moderate; tolerates seasonal drought
- Elevation: Best at 400-2,000 m
- Spacing: 8-12 m for shade trees
- Pruning: Regular pollarding encourages regrowth
Management Tips
- Pollarding: Cut main branches every 2-3 years to control size
- Timing: Prune after flowering and before rainy season
- Mulching: Leave pruned material around base
- Pests: Watch for stem borers and scale insects
- Companion Planting: Excellent with coffee, cacao, citrus
Identification Guide
How to Identify Poró
Definitive Characteristics:
- Trifoliate leaves with large, broadly ovate leaflets
- Orange-red flowers in dense terminal clusters
- Curved thorns on younger branches (may be absent in old trees)
- Gray bark becoming furrowed with age
- Deciduous habit — loses leaves before flowering
- Legume pods containing bright red and black seeds
Scientific Research
Research Highlights
| Research Area | Key Findings | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Nitrogen Fixation | 150-300 kg N/ha/year | Major contribution to agroforestry productivity |
| Carbon Sequestration | Significant biomass accumulation | Climate change mitigation potential |
| Pollinator Ecology | Critical dry season resource | Supports migratory and resident birds |
| Alkaloid Chemistry | Erythrina alkaloids isolated | Pharmacological interest, toxicology research |
| Agroforestry | Optimal shade levels for coffee | Guides sustainable production systems |
Current Studies
- Coffee quality under Poró shade vs. sun cultivation
- Carbon storage in traditional agroforestry systems
- Genetic diversity of Costa Rican populations
- Climate adaptation of shade-grown coffee systems
- Pollinator networks in coffee-Poró ecosystems
External Resources
Community observations and photos from Costa Rica
Taxonomic information and specimen records
Research on shade coffee systems
Shade-grown coffee certification
References
📚 Scientific References & Further Reading
Russo, R.O. & Budowski, G. (1986). Effect of pollarding frequency on biomass of Erythrina poeppigiana as a coffee shade tree. Agroforestry Systems
Beer, J., et al. (1998). Shade management in coffee and cacao plantations. Agroforestry Systems
Jiménez-Saa, H. (1967). Los árboles más importantes de la región central de Costa Rica
Neill, D.A. (1988). Experimental studies on species relationships in Erythrina. Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden
Muschler, R.G. (2001). Shade improves coffee quality in a sub-optimal coffee-zone of Costa Rica. Agroforestry Systems
The best time to see Poró in full bloom is January through March when the trees are leafless and covered in brilliant orange-red flowers. Visit any traditional coffee farm in the Central Valley, or look for them along roadsides throughout the highlands. The town of Santo Domingo de Heredia and the Orosi Valley offer particularly beautiful displays.
