Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Fruit, Shrub
Shrub
Origin
South America
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
Types
V. × heilbornii
-
Number of Varieties
02
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Tropical regions
Cultivated Beds
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-118-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
11-9
11-7
Sunset Zone
H1, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
180.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
150.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Yellow green
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Green, Light Yellow, Yellow green
Brown, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Palmate
Arrowhead
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Vegetative Reproduction
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Requires regular watering
Average Water Needs
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove shoots
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
-
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Insignificant
Showy
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
-
Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Showy Purposes
Borders
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Digestive disorders
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Fruits
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Used in making champagne
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Tropical
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
VASCONCELLEA x heilbornii
ERYTHRINA herbacea
Common Name
Babaco, Mountain Papaya
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
In Hindi
Babaco
Red Cardinal
In German
Babaco
Red Cardinal
In French
Babaco
Cardinal rouge
In Spanish
Babaco
Cárdenas
In Greek
Babaco
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
In Portuguese
Babaco
Cardeal vermelho
In Polish
Babaco
Red Cardinal
In Latin
Babaco
Cardinalis Rubrum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Brassicales
Fabales
Family
Caricaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Vasconcellea
Erythrina
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
-
Phaseoleae
Subfamily
-
Faboideae
Number of Species
110
1
27800
👆🏻