Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Shrub
  
Shrub
  
Origin
Mexico, Central America
  
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Tropical areas
  
Cultivated Beds
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
9-15
  
8-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
  
11-7
  
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Cushion/Mound-forming
  
Upright/Erect
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White, Pink, Light Pink, Lavender, Violet
  
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Non Fruiting Plant
  
Brown, Red
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Light 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
Dark Green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Oblong to lance-shaped
  
Arrowhead
  
Thorns
No
  
Yes
  
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
Medium
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
  
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Repeat Bloomer
Yes
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Cuttings, Divison, Layering, Seedlings
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Needs watering once a week, Requires more often in extreme heat
  
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
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Prune if you want to improve plant shape
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
  
Fertilizers
14-14-14 Fertilizer
  
Apply 10-10-10 amount
  
Pests and Diseases
Free of serious pests and diseases
  
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
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
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Butterflies
  
Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
no allergic reactions
  
Toxic
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Borders, Ground Cover
  
Borders
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Dysentry, Eye Infection, Indigestion, Organ Stones
  
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowering Tips, Flowers, Leaves, Shoots, Stem
  
Flowers, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Showy Purposes
  
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
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border
  
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
  
Botanical Name
CUPHEA hyssopifolia
  
ERYTHRINA herbacea
  
Common Name
False Heather, Mexican Heather, Hawaiian Heather
  
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
  
In Hindi
Mexican Heather
  
Red Cardinal
  
In German
Mexican Heather
  
Red Cardinal
  
In French
Mexicaine Heather
  
Cardinal rouge
  
In Spanish
Heather mexicana
  
Cárdenas
  
In Greek
Μεξικού Heather
  
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
  
In Portuguese
Mexican Heather
  
Cardeal vermelho
  
In Polish
Mexican Heather
  
Red Cardinal
  
In Latin
Mexicanus Heather
  
Cardinalis Rubrum
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Myrtales
  
Fabales
  
Family
Lythraceae
  
Fabaceae
  
Genus
Cuphea
  
Erythrina
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Phaseoleae
  
Subfamily
Lythroideae
  
Faboideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available