Life Span
Perennial
Perennial
Type
Shrub
Tree
Origin
United States, Southeastern United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Mexico
North America, Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, South-Central United States, Texas, Canada
Types
-
-
Number of Varieties
23
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Cultivated Beds
Dappled Shade, Sunny Edge, Woodland Garden Canopy
USDA Hardiness Zone
8-113-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
11-7
10-1
Sunset Zone
H1, 8, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Upright/Erect
Oval or Rounded
Plant Size
Minimum Height
90.00 cm1,520.00 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
60.00 cm1,220.00 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
Red, Magenta, Orange Red
Yellow green, Chartreuse
Flower Color Modifier
-
Bicolor
Fruit Color
Brown, Red
Green, Indigo, Black
Leaf Color in Spring
Green, Blue Green
Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green, Blue Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green, Blue Green
Yellow, Red, Orange, Yellow green, Bronze, Orange Red
Leaf Color in Winter
-
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Arrowhead
Ovate
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Spring, Summer, Fall
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Growth Rate
Fast
Fast
Type of Soil
Loam, Sand
Clay, Loam, Sand
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Average
Bloom Time
Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer
Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
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
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
Average
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
Nitrogen, Phosphorous
Pests and Diseases
-
Foliage diseases
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
Insects
Allergy
Toxic
Dermatitis, Diaphoresis
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Borders
-
Beauty Benefits
-
Skin Problems
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Antiemetic, Diuretic, Purgative, Tonic
Alterative, Anodyne, Antirheumatic, Antiseptic, Carminative, Diaphoretic, Diuretic
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
Leaves
Other Uses
Used as a general tonic, Used as a rat poison, Used as a vegetable
Used as a condiment, Used in making tea, Used to flavour soups
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Feature Plant, Foundation, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall, Wildflower
Shade Trees, Street Trees
Botanical Name
ERYTHRINA herbacea
SASSAFRAS albidum
Common Name
Red cardinal, Cardinal spear
Sassafras
In Hindi
Red Cardinal
Sassafras
In German
Red Cardinal
Sassafras
In French
Cardinal rouge
Sassafras
In Spanish
Cárdenas
Sasafrás
In Greek
κόκκινο Καρδινάλιος
σασάφρα
In Portuguese
Cardeal vermelho
sassafrás
In Polish
Red Cardinal
Sassafras
In Latin
Cardinalis Rubrum
Sassafras
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida
Magnoliopsida
Order
Fabales
Laurales
Family
Fabaceae
Lauraceae
Genus
Erythrina
Sassafras
Clade
Angiosperms, Eudicots, Rosids
Angiosperms, Magnoliids
Tribe
Phaseoleae
Cinnamomeae
Subfamily
Faboideae
Lauroideae
Number of Species
104
1
27800
👆🏻