I love this plant and there are a few I see around my area and two in my apartmemt complex but Im not sure what it is and how to collect seeds.. I didnt think aboit it and pulled a few but they hadnt dried out yet.. still green. Im assuming like some others Im supposed to wait til thry are All dried before i pull the pods.. they look kinda like pea pods..lol

Looks like Red Bird of Paradise - Caesalpinia pulcherrima.

Once it dries out to brown you can split the pod open to collect the seeds.

I think it is Pride of Barbados.

I agree too, that beautiful plant in the photo is Pride of Barbados (Caesalpinia pulcherrima)

Pride of Barbados is the same thing as Red Bird of Paradise - just another common name.

aocain, you don't have to split the pod when it dries. It will pop open when it's ready and throw seeds everywhere! I have them in my car where I left the pods when it was over 100° here. The seeds are everywhere! Just put them in an open container and let them dry on their own where they won't make a mess.

Thank ya'll so much.. I love it .. its gorgeous...i will check tomorrow and see if any around the plant are ready. And what do the seeds look like after they pop oit so if there are some on the ground?

I took a few pics of the pods and seeds:

The pod should be brownish and plump


Sometimes the seeds aren't quite ready, but they'll turn hard and brown.


When the pods are dry, they will pop and throw seeds. You can shake the pod. It will feel light and the seeds will be loose. The empty pod kind of rolls into a cylinder shape as it throws the seeds.

That what happened.. whennI realized they probably were not viable because there were a few area on most ofvthe pods that were lightly greenish. And I tossed them into a large potted plant outside my door. The other day I saw the curled pods and seeds around the area.
They wouldnt be able to be planted right?

Why not?