Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Origin
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
Mexico, Central America
Types
-
Cuphea hyssopifolia
Habitat
Cultivated Beds
Tropical areas
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-11
9-15
Sunset Zone
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Cushion/Mound-forming
Flower Color
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
White, Pink, Light Pink, Lavender, Violet
Flower Color Modifier
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green
Light Green, Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Dark Green
Leaf Shape
Arrowhead
Oblong to lance-shaped
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, 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
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Cuttings, Divison, Layering, Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Needs watering once a week, Requires more often in extreme heat
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, 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, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Prune if you want to improve plant shape
Fertilizers
Apply 10-10-10 amount
14-14-14 Fertilizer
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Foliage Texture
Medium
Medium
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Butterflies
Aesthetic Uses
Borders
Borders, Ground Cover
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
Dysentry, Eye Infection, Indigestion, Organ Stones
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Flowering Tips, Flowers, Leaves, Shoots, Stem
Other Uses
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
No
Yes
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
Yes
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Bedding Plant, Container, Edging, Foundation, Groundcover, Hanging Basket, Mixed Border
Botanical Name
ERYTHRINA herbacea
CUPHEA hyssopifolia
Common Name
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
False Heather, Mexican Heather, Hawaiian Heather
In Hindi
Red Cardinal
Mexican Heather
In German
Red Cardinal
Mexican Heather
In French
Cardinal rouge
Mexicaine Heather
In Spanish
Cárdenas
Heather mexicana
In Greek
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
Μεξικού Heather
In Portuguese
Cardeal vermelho
Mexican Heather
In Polish
Red Cardinal
Mexican Heather
In Latin
Cardinalis Rubrum
Mexicanus Heather
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Family
Fabaceae
Lythraceae
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Subfamily
Faboideae
Lythroideae
Importance of Red Cardinal and Mexican Heather
Want to have the most appropriate plant for your garden? You might want to know the importance of Red Cardinal and Mexican Heather. Basically, these two plants vary in many aspects. Compare Red Cardinal and Mexican Heather as they differ in many characteristics such as their life, care, benefits, facts, etc. Every gardener must at least have the slightest clue about the plants he wants to plant in his garden. Compare their benefits, which differ in many ways like facts and uses. The medicinal use of Red Cardinal is Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative and Tonic whereas of Mexican Heather is Dysentry, Eye Infection, Indigestion and Organ Stones. Red Cardinal has beauty benefits as follows: while Mexican Heather has beauty benefits as follows: .
Compare Facts of Red Cardinal vs Mexican Heather
How to choose the best garden plant for your garden depending upon its facts? Here garden plant comparison will help you to solve this query. Compare the facts of Red Cardinal vs Mexican Heather and know which one to choose. As garden plants have benefits and other uses, allergy is also a major drawback of plants for some people. Allergic reactions of Red Cardinal are Toxic whereas of Mexican Heather have respectively. Having a fruit bearing plant in your garden can be a plus point of your garden. Red Cardinal has showy fruits and Mexican Heather has no showy fruits. Also Red Cardinal is not flowering and Mexican Heather is not flowering . You can compare Red Cardinal and Mexican Heather facts and facts of other plants too.