Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Herbs
Origin
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
Mexico, Central America, South America
Types
-
Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants
Number of Varieties
21
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cultivated Beds
shrublands, tropical grasslands
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-11-9999
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
11-7
12-1
Sunset Zone
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm45.70 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm50.80 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
Green
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown, Red
Green, Light Green, Tan
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
Green, Light Green
Leaf Color in Winter
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Arrowhead
Lanceolate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
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
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
Drought
Drought
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
Ground
How to Plant?
Seedlings
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs
Requires a lot of watering, 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
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
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
-
Pest Free
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
Showy
Insignificant
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
Bees, Flies
Allergy
Toxic
allergic reaction, Skin irritation
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Borders
-
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
Detoxification, Insect Bites, Stomach pain, Treat Parasitic Intestinal Worms
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
Pesticide, The essential oil is used as insect repellent
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Container, Herb / Vegetable
Botanical Name
ERYTHRINA herbacea
CHENOPODIUM ambrosioides
Common Name
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
Mexican Tea
In Hindi
Red Cardinal
Dysphania ambrosioides
In German
Red Cardinal
Mexikanischer Drüsengänsefuß
In French
Cardinal rouge
Épazote
In Spanish
Cárdenas
Dysphania ambrosioides
In Greek
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
Μεξικού τσάι
In Portuguese
Cardeal vermelho
Dysphania ambrosioides
In Polish
Red Cardinal
Komosa piżmowa
In Latin
Cardinalis Rubrum
Dysphania ambrosioides
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Tracheophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fabales
Caryophyllales
Family
Fabaceae
Chenopodiaceae
Genus
Erythrina
Dysphania
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
Tribe
Phaseoleae
Dysphanieae
Subfamily
Faboideae
Chenopodioideae
Number of Species
1030
1
27800
👆🏻