Life Span
Perennial
Annual and Perennial
Type
Shrub
Fruit
Origin
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
Mexico, Central America
Types
-
Male Papaya Tree, Female Papaya Tree, hermaphrodite Tree
Number of Varieties
220
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cultivated Beds
tropical environments, Tropical regions
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, 21, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Upright/Erect
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm457.20 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm7.62 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
Ivory
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown, Red
Green, Orange, Light Yellow
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue 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
-
Light Green
Shape
Leaf Shape
Arrowhead
Irregular
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Fast
Very Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Loam, Sand, Well drained
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Indeterminate
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
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Do not water frequently, Requires watering in the growing season
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
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, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves, Remove shoots, Remove short branches, Remove short twigs, Requires little pruning
Fertilizers
Apply 10-10-10 amount
14-14-14 Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
-
Red blotch
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
Bold
Foliage Sheen
Matte
Glossy
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Hummingbirds
Ants, Bees, Hummingbirds
Allergy
Toxic
Asthma, breathing problems, Itchiness, Itchy eyes, Red eyes, Runny nose, sneezing, Sore eyes, Swelling, Watery eyes, wheezing
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Borders
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Good for skin, Good for skin and hair, Improve hair condition, Making cosmetics
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
Asthma, Bone strength, Cancer, Diabetes, Digestion problems, Heart problems, Inflammation, Skin Disorders
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Fruits, Seeds
Other Uses
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
Cosmetics, Making Shampoo, Used As Food, Used for its medicinal properties
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Container, Edible, Feature Plant, Fruit / Fruit Tree, Tropical
Botanical Name
ERYTHRINA herbacea
CARICA papaya
Common Name
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
Papaya
In Hindi
Red Cardinal
पपीता
In German
Red Cardinal
Papaya
In French
Cardinal rouge
Papaye
In Spanish
Cárdenas
Papaya
In Greek
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
Παπάγια
In Portuguese
Cardeal vermelho
Mamão
In Polish
Red Cardinal
Papaja
In Latin
Cardinalis Rubrum
Papaya
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fabales
Brassicales
Family
Fabaceae
Caricaceae
Genus
Erythrina
Carica
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Tribe
Phaseoleae
-
Subfamily
Faboideae
-
Number of Species
1030
1
27800
👆🏻