This brilliantly colored shrub is the Pride of Barbados, Caesalpinia pulcherrima.

Its flowers are hard to miss, with their fiery combination of red, orange, and yellow petals and long stamens reaching outward from the center. Those bright colors help attract butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds.

The delicate, fernlike foliage may remind you of a Royal Poinciana, and the two plants are related. However, Pride of Barbados remains much smaller, usually growing as a large shrub or small tree.

It is well adapted to Caribbean conditions. It thrives in heat and strong sunlight and can tolerate drought once established. That makes it a popular ornamental throughout the region.

After flowering, the plant produces flat green seedpods. As they mature, they turn brown and dry. Eventually, the pods split open and scatter their seeds.

Pride of Barbados is especially significant because it is the national flower of Barbados. Its name reflects both its beauty and its close association with the island.