Cardinal Spear, Coralbean, Cherokee Bean, Red Cardinal, Erythrina arborea
Thriving on neglect, Erythrina herbacea (Coralbean) is a multistemmed thorny deciduous shrub or small tree noted for its brilliant red tubular flowers borne in upright spikes, up to 2 ft. long (60 cm). Blooming in several waves between spring and fall, the showy blossoms resemble crescent moons and are particularly attractive to hummingbirds. They are followed by persistent hanging pods that burst open to reveal beautiful, bright red seeds, adding further interest long after flowering. Scattered along the stems, the alternatively arranged, trifoliate leaves feature long petioles and arrowhead-shaped leaflets. Dull green in color, they have prickles on the midribs and on the undersides. Coralbean is deciduous but retains its foliage late into the season. Evergreen in the tropics, this unusual tropical plant is killed to the ground in winter in places where freezing weather occurs. However, it will regrow in the spring. Coralbean is an excellent ornamental flowering shrub or tree, often used to give a woodland planting a naturalistic effect. It is also excellent as an accent or specimen plant.
| Hardiness |
8 - 11 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Shrubs, Trees |
| Plant Family | Leguminosae |
| Common names | Red Cardinal |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Height | 6' - 12' (180cm - 3.7m) |
| Spread | 3' - 6' (90cm - 180cm) |
| Spacing | 60" - 72" (150cm - 180cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Southwest, Texas |
| Tolerance | Drought, Salt, Dry Soil |
| Attracts | Hummingbirds |
| Garden Styles | Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
| Hardiness |
8 - 11 |
|---|---|
| Plant Type | Shrubs, Trees |
| Plant Family | Leguminosae |
| Common names | Red Cardinal |
| Exposure | Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest | Spring (Early, Mid, Late), Summer (Early, Mid, Late), Fall |
| Height | 6' - 12' (180cm - 3.7m) |
| Spread | 3' - 6' (90cm - 180cm) |
| Spacing | 60" - 72" (150cm - 180cm) |
| Maintenance | Low |
| Water Needs | Low |
| Soil Type | Clay, Loam, Sand |
| Soil pH | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage | Well-Drained |
| Characteristics | Showy |
| Native Plants | United States, Southeast, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Southwest, Texas |
| Tolerance | Drought, Salt, Dry Soil |
| Attracts | Hummingbirds |
| Garden Styles | Coastal Garden, Informal and Cottage, Mediterranean Garden |
How many Erythrina herbacea (Coralbean) do I need for my garden?
| Plant | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|
| Erythrina herbacea (Coralbean) | N/A | Buy Plants |
Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!
Create a membership account to save your garden designs and to view them on any device.
Becoming a contributing member of Gardenia is easy and can be done in just a few minutes. If you provide us with your name, email address and the payment of a modest $25 annual membership fee, you will become a full member, enabling you to design and save up to 25 of your garden design ideas.
Join now and start creating your dream garden!
