Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Tree
Origin
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
Southeastern United States, Mexico, Caribbean, Central America
Types
-
-
Number of Varieties
21
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cultivated Beds
Dry Forest, Lowland
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-1110-15
0
99
👆🏻
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
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm300.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm370.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
Purple, Violet, Blue Violet
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown, Red
Yellow, Red
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
Green, Olive
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Olive
Shape
Leaf Shape
Arrowhead
Pinnate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Slow
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Early Spring, Spring, Late Winter, Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Low
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Average Water Needs, Keep the ground moist but not water-logged, 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
Neutral, Alkaline
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
Fertilizers
Apply 10-10-10 amount
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer, slow-release fertilizers
Pests and Diseases
-
Pests and diseases free, Red blotch
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought, Salt, Variety of soil types
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
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Toxic
Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Borders
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Ground Cover
Beauty Benefits
-
Blood purifying
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Food for birds, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
anti-inflammatory, Gout, Rheumatism, Sore throat
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Fruits, Seeds, Wood
Other Uses
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
Used for its medicinal properties, Wood is used for ship building
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Container, Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall, Tropical
Botanical Name
ERYTHRINA herbacea
GUAIACUM sanctum
Common Name
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
Holy-wood, Lignum Vitae
In Hindi
Red Cardinal
Holywood
In German
Red Cardinal
Holywood
In French
Cardinal rouge
Holywood
In Spanish
Cárdenas
Holywood
In Greek
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
Holywood
In Portuguese
Cardeal vermelho
Holywood
In Polish
Red Cardinal
Holywood
In Latin
Cardinalis Rubrum
Holywood
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fabales
Sapindales
Family
Fabaceae
Zygophyllaceae
Genus
Erythrina
Guaiacum
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Phaseoleae
-
Subfamily
Faboideae
Zygophylloideae
Number of Species
105
1
27800
👆🏻