[5] Erythrina afra is a medium to large deciduous tree.

It grows in coastal bushes and riverine forests along the southeastern coast of South Africa and up into Zululand.

The main petal curves back to expose the stamens.

The original etymology of the species name caffra is related to kaffir, an ethnic slur used towards black people in Africa.

At the July 2024 International Botanical Congress, a vote was held with the result that "caffra" related names will be amended to afra related ones, with this being implemented at the end of July 2024.