Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Tender Perennial
Origin
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
Southern Africa
Types
-
Perennial
Number of Varieties
250
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cultivated Beds
Desert, Mediterranean region, Subtropical climates, Temperate Regions
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-118-10
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
11-7
10-8
Sunset Zone
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm61.30 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm30.50 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
Yellow, Light Yellow, Brown
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown, Red
Green, Brown
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Arrowhead
Grass like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Medium
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Rhizome division, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Requires regular watering
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
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Average
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 dead leaves
Fertilizers
Apply 10-10-10 amount
Any balanced general purpose fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
-
Nematodes, Scale
Plant Tolerance
Drought
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
Hummingbirds
Bees, Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Toxic
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Borders
Showy Purposes
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Ethnobotanic
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
-
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Root
Other Uses
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
Roots were worn to protect and strengthen the wearer, Used as Ornamental plant
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Bog Garden, Container, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Tropical, Water Gardens
Botanical Name
ERYTHRINA herbacea
DIETES bicolor
Common Name
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
African iris, Fortnight lily
In Hindi
Red Cardinal
African Iris
In German
Red Cardinal
Afrikanische Iris
In French
Cardinal rouge
African Iris
In Spanish
Cárdenas
Iris africano
In Greek
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
Αφρικανική Iris
In Portuguese
Cardeal vermelho
Iris africano
In Polish
Red Cardinal
Afryki Iris
In Latin
Cardinalis Rubrum
African Iris
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fabales
Asparagales
Family
Fabaceae
Iridaceae
Genus
Erythrina
Dietes
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Monocots
Tribe
Phaseoleae
Irideae
Subfamily
Faboideae
Iridoideae
Number of Species
10300
1
27800
👆🏻