Peacock flower was originally from Tropical America, now pantropical. It occurs in Tropical dry to moist forests. It is widely grown throughout the tropics as an ornamental and as a hedge, being valued especially for its incredibly showy blossom. In Kampala, peacock flower is found along Mackenzie vale road, Yusuf Lule road, Upper Kololo terrace among other places.

Peacock flower is a deciduous or evergreen shrub or small tree with a spreading crown of 2 - 4 m wide. Usually without prickles, it can grow up to 5 meters tall. The slender trunk is usually straight and cylindrical and can be free of branches for 100cm or more.

BARK: green, turning grayish-brown as the stems become woodier, covered with spines, which swell at the base upon maturity.

LEAVES: small, bi-pinnate, pinnae 4-8 pairs, each with 7-11 pairs of elliptic, obtuse, obliquely in-equilateral light green leaflets about 2-2.5 cm long, oval leaflets.

FLOWERS: orange, yellow and red combination, scentless with long stamens and pistil. There is one modified petal which is smaller than the other 4 petals, flowers borne in terminal clusters.

FRUITS: oblong, smooth, brown to black, flat pod, thin, up to 10 cm long. Pods split to disperse the single row of flattened seeds.

Edible: young seeds can be eaten raw or cooked, flowers can be cooked.

Medicine: roots, bark, leaves, flowers, and seeds. http://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php id=Caesalpinia+pulcherrima

An ink is made from the charred wood.

Agroforestry: often grown as a hedge.

The seeds (seedpods) are a source of tannins.

A yellow dye (when combined with alum) or black dye (when combined with iron) can be obtained.

The wood makes an excellent charcoal.