Life Span
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Shrub
  
Shrub
  
Origin
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
  
Mexico
  
Types
Not Available
  
Pink cestrum, Red cestrum, Purple cestrum
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
Cultivated Beds
  
gardens, High elevation, Roadsides
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-11
  
9-15
  
AHS Heat Zone
11-7
  
12-10
  
Sunset Zone
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
H1, H2, 13, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
  
Habit
Upright/Erect
  
Arching/Fountain-shaped
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
  
Magenta, Crimson, Violet
  
Flower Color Modifier
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Fruit Color
Brown, Red
  
Red
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green
  
Green, Light Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
  
Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Not Available
  
Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Arrowhead
  
Ovate
  
Thorns
Yes
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
  
Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun
  
Growth Rate
Fast
  
Fast
  
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
  
Loam, Sand
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral
  
Soil Drainage
Well drained
  
Well drained
  
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
  
Early Spring, Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
  
Repeat Bloomer
No
  
Yes
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Drought
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Ground, Pot
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings
  
Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Medium
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
  
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
  
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
  
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
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove dead or diseased plant parts
  
Fertilizers
Apply 10-10-10 amount
  
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
No serious insect or disease problems
  
Red blotch
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Drought
  
Flowers
Showy
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
Yes
  
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
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Medium
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Matte
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
No
  
Attracts
Hummingbirds
  
Birds, Hummingbirds, Butterflies
  
Allergy
Toxic
  
Not Available
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Borders
  
Bonsai, Hanging Basket, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
  
Not Available
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
  
Flowers, Fruits, Seeds
  
Other Uses
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
  
Showy Purposes
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
  
Cutflower, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Screening, Wind Break, Tropical
  
Botanical Name
ERYTHRINA herbacea
  
CESTRUM elegans
  
Common Name
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
  
Crimson cestrum, Elegant poison-berry, Purple cestrum, Red cestrum
  
In Hindi
Red Cardinal
  
Butterfly Flower plant
  
In German
Red Cardinal
  
Schmetterlings-Blumen- Anlage
  
In French
Cardinal rouge
  
usine de fleur de papillon
  
In Spanish
Cárdenas
  
planta de la flor de mariposa
  
In Greek
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
  
φυτό Πεταλούδα λουλούδι
  
In Portuguese
Cardeal vermelho
  
planta de flor de borboleta
  
In Polish
Red Cardinal
  
Motyl Kwiat roślin
  
In Latin
Cardinalis Rubrum
  
Flos plantae Gloria
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Magnoliopsida
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Fabales
  
Solanales
  
Family
Fabaceae
  
Solanaceae
  
Genus
Erythrina
  
Cestrum
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Phaseoleae
  
Cestreae
  
Subfamily
Faboideae
  
Browallioideae
  
Number of Species
Not Available