Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Shrub
  
Shrub
  
Origin
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
  
Mexico, Central America
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Cultivated Beds
  
Tropical areas
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-11
  
9-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
11-7
  
12-10
  
Sunset Zone
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Cushion/Mound-forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
  
White, Pink, Light Pink, Lavender, Violet
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Brown, Red
  
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green
  
Light Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
  
Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Dark Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Arrowhead
  
Oblong to lance-shaped
  
Thorns
Yes
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Indeterminate
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Cuttings, Divison, Layering, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
  
Needs watering once a week, Requires more often in extreme heat
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Clay, 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 damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Prune if you want to improve plant shape
  
Fertilizers
Apply 10-10-10 amount
  
14-14-14 Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
No serious insect or disease problems
  
Free of serious pests and diseases
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Glossy
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Hummingbirds
  
Butterflies
  
Allergy
Toxic
  
no allergic reactions
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Borders
  
Borders, Ground Cover
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
  
Dysentry, Eye Infection, Indigestion, Organ Stones
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
  
Flowering Tips, Flowers, Leaves, Shoots, Stem
  
Other Uses
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
  
Showy Purposes
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
Yes
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
  
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border
  
Botanical Name
ERYTHRINA herbacea
  
CUPHEA hyssopifolia
  
Common Name
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
  
False Heather, Mexican Heather, Hawaiian Heather
  
In Hindi
Red Cardinal
  
Mexican Heather
  
In German
Red Cardinal
  
Mexican Heather
  
In French
Cardinal rouge
  
Mexicaine Heather
  
In Spanish
Cárdenas
  
Heather mexicana
  
In Greek
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
  
Μεξικού Heather
  
In Portuguese
Cardeal vermelho
  
Mexican Heather
  
In Polish
Red Cardinal
  
Mexican Heather
  
In Latin
Cardinalis Rubrum
  
Mexicanus Heather
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Fabales
  
Myrtales
  
Family
Fabaceae
  
Lythraceae
  
Genus
Erythrina
  
Cuphea
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Phaseoleae
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Faboideae
  
Lythroideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Season and Care of Red Cardinal and Mexican Heather
Season and care of Red Cardinal and Mexican Heather is important to know. While considering everything about Red Cardinal and Mexican Heather Care, growing season is an essential factor. Red Cardinal season is Spring, Summer and Fall and Mexican Heather season is Spring, Summer and Fall. The type of soil for Red Cardinal is Loam, Sand and for Mexican Heather is Clay, Loam, Sand while the PH of soil for Red Cardinal is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline and for Mexican Heather is Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline.
Red Cardinal and Mexican Heather Physical Information
Red Cardinal and Mexican Heather physical information is very important for comparison. Red Cardinal height is 90.00 cm and width 60.00 cm whereas Mexican Heather height is 20.30 cm and width 30.40 cm. The color specification of Red Cardinal and Mexican Heather are as follows:
Red Cardinal flower color: Red, Magenta and Orange Red
Red Cardinal leaf color: Green and Blue Green
Mexican Heather flower color: White, Pink, Light Pink, Lavender and Violet
- Mexican Heather leaf color: Light Green and Dark Green
Care of Red Cardinal and Mexican Heather
Care of Red Cardinal and Mexican Heather include pruning, fertilizers, watering etc. Red Cardinal pruning is done Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches and Remove dead leaves and Mexican Heather pruning is done Prune if you want to improve plant shape. In summer Red Cardinal needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water. Whereas, in summer Mexican Heather needs Lots of watering and in winter, it needs Average Water.