Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Tree
Shrub
Origin
Eastern Africa, Middle Africa
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
Types
Kigelia africana
-
Number of Varieties
92
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Riverine forest, wooded grassland
Cultivated Beds
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-128-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
11-7
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 12, 13, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Arching/Fountain-shaped
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
1,220.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
910.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Dark Red, Tan
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
Tan
Brown, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
Arrowhead
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Medium
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Average
Well drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought, Salt
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Needs a lot of water initially
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, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
Balanced liquid fertilizer monthly
Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
Leaf spot, Mealybugs, Rust
-
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
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
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Poisonous when unripe
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Borders
Beauty Benefits
Acne, Slow downs aging
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Gynaecological, Malaria, STDs
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Dried seeds, Leaves
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Used to flavour beer, Used to produce a red dye
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Shade Trees, Tropical
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
KIGELIA africana
ERYTHRINA herbacea
Common Name
Sausage Tree
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
In Hindi
Sausage Tree
Red Cardinal
In German
Sausage Tree
Red Cardinal
In French
saucisse Arbre
Cardinal rouge
In Spanish
Árbol de salchicha
Cárdenas
In Greek
λουκάνικο δέντρο
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
In Portuguese
Árvore de salsicha
Cardeal vermelho
In Polish
kiełbasa Drzewo
Red Cardinal
In Latin
farciminis ligno
Cardinalis Rubrum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Lamiales
Fabales
Family
Bignoniaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Kaempferia
Erythrina
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Tecomeae
Phaseoleae
Subfamily
-
Faboideae
Number of Species
910
1
27800
👆🏻