Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Herbs, Perennial
Shrub
Origin
South-Eastern Asia
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
Types
-
-
Number of Varieties
202
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Semi desert, Wet forest
Cultivated Beds
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-118-11
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 9
11-7
Sunset Zone
-
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
460.00 cm90.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
20.00 cm60.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
-
Fruit Color
-
Brown, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Light Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Dark Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Elliptic
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
Very Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Clay, 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
Wet Site
Drought
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Stem Cutting
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Needs good drainage
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Cut away fading foliage, Cut upper 1/3 section when young to enhancegrowth, Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, Don't use high pH fertilizers
Apply 10-10-10 amount
Pests and Diseases
Aphids, Downy mildew, Dry root rot, Rust, Spider mites
-
Plant Tolerance
Heat Tolerance, Humidity
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
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Aphids, Bees, Butterflies, Snails
Hummingbirds
Allergy
Dizziness, Mouth itching, Vomiting
Toxic
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
Borders
Beauty Benefits
Good Cleanser, Good for the Scalp
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Insect Repellent
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antipyretic, Bronchitis, Cough, Digestive disorders, Ear infections, Expectorant, Laxative, Migraines, Piles, Rheumatism, Throat infection, Treating fever
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
Part of Plant Used
Bark, Leaf Stalks, Leaves
Flowers, Leaves
Other Uses
Biomass for fuel, Can be made into a herbal tea, Culinary use, Oil is used for aromatherapy, Used as a laxative
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, Hedges, Mixed Border, Screening / Wind Break, Tropical
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
Justicia adhatoda
ERYTHRINA herbacea
Common Name
Malabar nut, Adulsa, Adhatoda, Vasaka
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
In Hindi
अडुळसा, अडुसा
Red Cardinal
In German
Indisches Lungenkraut
Red Cardinal
In French
Justicia adhatoda
Cardinal rouge
In Spanish
Justicia adhatoda
Cárdenas
In Greek
Justicia adhatoda
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
In Portuguese
Justicia adhatoda
Cardeal vermelho
In Polish
Justicia adhatoda
Red Cardinal
In Latin
Justicia adhatoda
Cardinalis Rubrum
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Scrophulariales
Fabales
Family
Acanthaceae
Fabaceae
Genus
Justicia
Erythrina
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Justicieae
Phaseoleae
Subfamily
Acanthoideae
Faboideae
Number of Species
65810
1
27800
👆🏻