Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Shrub
  
Shrub
  
Origin
Southwestern United States, Mexico
  
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Desert, Dry areas, Semi desert
  
Cultivated Beds
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
7-9
  
8-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
9-5
  
11-7
  
Sunset Zone
3b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23
  
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Yellow, Purple, Pink, Lavender
  
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
  
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Orange
  
Brown, Red
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Green, Blue Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Green, Blue Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Green, Blue Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Linear
  
Arrowhead
  
Thorns
No
  
Yes
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
  
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought, Heat Tolerance
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting, Transplanting
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, 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, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
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
fertilize every 2-3 weeks while growing
  
Apply 10-10-10 amount
  
Pests and Diseases
Insects, Red blotch
  
No serious insect or disease problems
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Showy
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
Yes
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
No
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
  
Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
Asthma
  
Toxic
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Showy Purposes
  
Borders
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for insects
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Anti-fungal, Cough, Wounds
  
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves, Stem
  
Flowers, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Decoration Purposes, Showy Purposes, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Yes
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border
  
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
  
Botanical Name
CHILOPSIS linearis
  
ERYTHRINA herbacea
  
Common Name
Desert Willow
  
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
  
In Hindi
रेगिस्तान विलो
  
Red Cardinal
  
In German
Wüsten Weide
  
Red Cardinal
  
In French
desert Willow
  
Cardinal rouge
  
In Spanish
Desert Willow
  
Cárdenas
  
In Greek
έρημο Willow
  
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
  
In Portuguese
Willow deserto
  
Cardeal vermelho
  
In Polish
desert Willow
  
Red Cardinal
  
In Latin
desert Willow
  
Cardinalis Rubrum
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Not Available
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Lamiales
  
Fabales
  
Family
Bignoniaceae
  
Fabaceae
  
Genus
Chilopsis
  
Erythrina
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Tecomeae
  
Phaseoleae
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Faboideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available