Life Span
Annual and Perennial
Annual
Type
Fruit
Perennial
Origin
Mexico, Central America
North America, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, North-Central United States, South-Central United States, Canada
Types
Male Papaya Tree, Female Papaya Tree, hermaphrodite Tree
Herbaceous perennial
Number of Varieties
2040
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
tropical environments, Tropical regions
Lakes, Pastures, Prairies, Roadsides, Swamps, Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-153-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-10
9-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 21, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
457.20 cm61.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
7.62 cm25.40 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Ivory
Red, Crimson, Dark Red
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Green, Orange, Light Yellow
Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Dark Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Dark Green
Purple, Dark Green, Burgundy
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Irregular
Lanceolate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Very Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand, Well drained
Loam
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Bloom Time
Indeterminate
Early Summer, Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground
Container, Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Cuttings, Divison, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Do not water frequently, Requires watering in the growing season
Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Loam
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Poorly Drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove shoots, Remove short branches, Remove short twigs, Requires little pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Fertilizers
14-14-14 Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
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
Bold
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Ants, Bees, Hummingbirds
Butterflies, Insects
Allergy
Asthma, breathing problems, Itchiness, Itchy eyes, Red eyes, Runny nose, sneezing, Sore eyes, Swelling, Watery eyes, wheezing
-
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
-
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
Good for skin, Good for skin and hair, Improve hair condition, Making cosmetics
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Asthma, Bone strength, Cancer, Diabetes, Digestion problems, Heart problems, Inflammation, Skin Disorders
Headache, Rheumatism, Stomach pain
Part of Plant Used
Fruits, Seeds
Flowers, Leaves, Root
Other Uses
Cosmetics, Making Shampoo, Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Medicinal oil, Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Tropical
Bog Garden, Mixed Border, Water Gardens, Wildflower
Botanical Name
CARICA papaya
LOBELIA cardinalis
Common Name
Papaya
Cardinal Flower
In Hindi
पपीता
Cardinal Flower
In German
Papaya
Cardinal Flower
In French
Papaye
Cardinal Flower
In Spanish
Papaya
Cardinal Flower
In Greek
Παπάγια
Καρδινάλιος λουλούδι
In Portuguese
Mamão
Cardinal Flower
In Polish
Papaja
Cardinal Flower
In Latin
Papaya
Cardinalis Flower
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Brassicales
Asterales
Family
Caricaceae
Lobeliaceae
Genus
Carica
Lobelia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
-
-
Subfamily
-
Lobelioideae
Number of Species
3056
1
27800
👆🏻