Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Shrub
Grass
Origin
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
North America, United States, Western United States, Southwestern United States, Mexico
Types
-
Bouteloua gracilis
Number of Varieties
214
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cultivated Beds
Open Plains, Prairies
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-113-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
11-7
9 - 5
Sunset Zone
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21
Habit
Upright/Erect
Clump-Forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm91.44 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm91.44 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown, Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green
Green, Blue Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
Purple, Blue Green, Tan
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Arrowhead
Grass like
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Summer, Late Summer
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Pollution, Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Average Water Needs, Medium
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
-
Fertilizers
Apply 10-10-10 amount
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
-
Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Pollution
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
Medium
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Butterflies, Flying insects
Allergy
Toxic
Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Hay fever, Pollen, Respiratory problems, Runny nose, Watery eyes
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Borders
Ground Cover
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, soil erosion prevension on hill slopes, Wildlife
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
Cuts
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Seeds, Whole plant
Other Uses
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
Used As Food
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Dried Flower/Everlasting, Feature Plant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Wildflower
Botanical Name
ERYTHRINA herbacea
BOUTELOUA gracilis 'Blonde Ambition'
Common Name
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
Blonde Ambition Blue Grama Grass, Blue Grama Grass
In Hindi
Red Cardinal
Blue Grama Grass
In German
Red Cardinal
Blau Grama Grass
In French
Cardinal rouge
Boutelou gracieux
In Spanish
Cárdenas
Azul Grama Grass
In Greek
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
Μπλε Grama Grass
In Portuguese
Cardeal vermelho
Azul Grama Grama
In Polish
Red Cardinal
Niebieski Grama Trawa
In Latin
Cardinalis Rubrum
Blue Grama Grass
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Lilopsida
Order
Fabales
Cyperales
Family
Fabaceae
Poaceae
Genus
Erythrina
Bouteloua
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Commelinids, Monocots
Tribe
Phaseoleae
-
Subfamily
Faboideae
-
Number of Species
1050
1
27800
👆🏻