Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Tree
Origin
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
Southeastern Asia, Melanesia, Micronesia, Polynesia
Types
-
-
Number of Varieties
23
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cultivated Beds
Woodlands
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-1110-12
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
11-7
12-9
Sunset Zone
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H2, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm1,370.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm1,520.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
White
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown, Red
Light Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
Green, Gray Green, Gray
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
Green, Gray Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Arrowhead
Maple shaped
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 Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Indeterminate
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Wet Site, Drought, Salt
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings, Stem Planting
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Water daily during growing season
In Summer
Lots of watering
Moderate
In Spring
Moderate
Less Watering
In Winter
Average Water
Less Watering
Soil
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, 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
Pests and Diseases
-
Aphids, Insects
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
Birds, Butterflies
Allergy
Toxic
Nausea, Vomiting
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Borders
Cottage Garden
Beauty Benefits
-
For treating wrinkles, Moisturizing, used as a dye
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification, Shadow Tree
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
Cramps, Dermatitis
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Bark, Fruits, Leaves
Other Uses
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
Can be made into a herbal tea, Making Sweet Scented Oil, Sauces, Used as firewood
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Mixed Border, Shade Trees, Street Trees, Tropical
Botanical Name
ERYTHRINA herbacea
ALEURITES moluccanus
Common Name
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
Candleberry, Candlenut, Kukui
In Hindi
Red Cardinal
Aleurites moluccanus
In German
Red Cardinal
Lichtnussbaum
In French
Cardinal rouge
Aleurites moluccana
In Spanish
Cárdenas
Aleurites moluccanus
In Greek
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
Aleurites moluccanus
In Portuguese
Cardeal vermelho
Nogueira-de-iguape
In Polish
Red Cardinal
Nogueira-de-iguape
In Latin
Cardinalis Rubrum
Aleurites moluccanus
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Angiosperms
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fabales
Euphorbiales
Family
Fabaceae
Euphorbiaceae
Genus
Erythrina
Aleurites
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Phaseoleae
Aleuritideae
Subfamily
Faboideae
Crotonoideae
Number of Species
1050
1
27800
👆🏻