Life Span
Annual
  
Perennial
  
Type
Flowering Plants
  
Shrub
  
Origin
Mexico, Central America, South America
  
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
  
Types
Not available
  
Not Available
  
Habitat
Cultivated Beds
  
Cultivated Beds
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-11
  
8-11
  
AHS Heat Zone
12 - 1
  
11-7
  
Sunset Zone
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 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
Yellow, Orange, Gold, Orange Red
  
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
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
Light Green
  
Not Available
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Pinnate
  
Arrowhead
  
Thorns
No
  
Yes
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
  
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
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Divison, Layering, Stem Cutting
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
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
Slightly Acidic
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Sandy
  
Loam, Sand
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Sun Exposure
Part 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
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Apply 10-10-10 amount
  
Pests and Diseases
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
Yes
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
Yes
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
Sometimes
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Butterflies
  
Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
Not Available
  
Toxic
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification, Decorating walls, Hanging Basket, Showy Purposes, Used as an interior landscaping species
  
Borders
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
Yes
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification, Food for birds
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Cancer, Diarrhea, Hepatitis, Inflammation, Wounds
  
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers
  
Flowers, Leaves
  
Other Uses
Air freshner, Condiment, For making oil for cosmetics, Garland, Making Sweet Scented Oil, Medicinal oil, Used as an ointment, Used as Ornamental plant, Used for fragrance, Used for its medicinal properties, Used for Landscaping
  
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
  
Used As Indoor Plant
Insignificant
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Dried Flower, Landscape, Lawns and Turf
  
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
  
Botanical Name
TAGETES lucida
  
ERYTHRINA herbacea
  
Common Name
Mexican Marigold, Sweetscented marigold
  
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
  
In Hindi
मैक्सिकन गेंदा
  
Red Cardinal
  
In German
mexikanische Ringelblume
  
Red Cardinal
  
In French
Tagetes lucida
  
Cardinal rouge
  
In Spanish
caléndula mexicano
  
Cárdenas
  
In Greek
μεξικάνικο κατιφέ
  
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
  
In Portuguese
Tagetes lucida
  
Cardeal vermelho
  
In Polish
meksykański nagietka
  
Red Cardinal
  
In Latin
Mexicanus caltha
  
Cardinalis Rubrum
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Asterales
  
Fabales
  
Family
Asteraceae
  
Fabaceae
  
Genus
Tagetes
  
Erythrina
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Tribe
Tageteae
  
Phaseoleae
  
Subfamily
Asteroideae
  
Faboideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available
  
Not Available