Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Shrub
Flowering Plants, Shrubs
Origin
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
America
Types
-
Lobelia aberdarica, Lobelia leschenaultiana, Lobelia canbyi
Number of Varieties
2415
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cultivated Beds
Open areas, River side, Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-114-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
11-7
8-1
Sunset Zone
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Cushion/Mound-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm0.54 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm0.38 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
Blue, Red, Violet, White
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown, Red
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Arrowhead
Cushion
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Fall, Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Early Fall, Early Summer, Late Summer, Mid fall, Mid Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
-
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Form a Soil ring to water efficiently, Prefer drip-irrigation instead of Over-head watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Use Mulches to help prevent water loss during hot and windy weather, Water twice a day in the initial period
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
Soil Type
Loam, Sand
Well drained
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Cut or pinch the stems, Prune after flowering, Prune to control growth, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
Apply 10-10-10 amount
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
-
Botrytis Blight, Crown rot, Pythium rot, Stem spot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
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
Birds, Hummingbirds
Allergy
Toxic
coma, convulsions, Diarrhea, exhaustion, Nausea, salivation, Vomiting, weakness
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Borders
Beautification, Bouquets, Showy Purposes, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
Asthma, Bronchitis, Croup
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Bedding Plant, Bog Garden, Edging, Foundation, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Botanical Name
ERYTHRINA herbacea
Lobelia laxiflora
Common Name
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
Lobelia
In Hindi
Red Cardinal
Lobelia
In German
Red Cardinal
Lobelie
In French
Cardinal rouge
Lobelia
In Spanish
Cárdenas
Lobelia
In Greek
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
λοβηλία
In Portuguese
Cardeal vermelho
Lobélia
In Polish
Red Cardinal
Lobelia
In Latin
Cardinalis Rubrum
Lobelia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Anthophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Dicotyledonae
Order
Fabales
Asterales
Family
Fabaceae
Campanulaceae
Genus
Erythrina
Lobelia
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Phaseoleae
-
Subfamily
Faboideae
Lobelioideae
Number of Species
10415
1
27800
👆🏻