Erythranthe cardinalis (Douglas ex Benth.) Spach

Scientific Name and Growth Form

Erythranthe cardinalis (Douglas ex Benth.) Spach is a perennial herb that reaches 30 to 91 centimeters (1 to 3 feet) in height.

Foliage and Flower Characteristics

It is a fairly large, spreading, attractive plant that produces strongly reflexed, nectar-rich red or orange-red flowers, along with toothed, downy leaves.

Native Range and Habitat

This species is native to the West Coast and Southwestern United States, as well as Baja California, and it typically grows at low elevation in moist locations.

Yellow-Flowered Morphs

Occasional wild populations of yellow-flowered Erythranthe cardinalis, which lack anthocyanin pigments in their corollas, can be found in the wild.

Pollination Mechanism

The blooms and large nectar supply of Erythranthe cardinalis attract hummingbirds, and pollen is transferred between flowers on the hummingbirds' foreheads.

Reproductive Isolation

In regions where Erythranthe cardinalis overlaps with its sister species Erythranthe lewisii, reproductive isolation is maintained almost entirely through pollinator preference.

Horticultural Availability and Uses

Erythranthe cardinalis is sold in the horticulture trade and widely available as an ornamental plant for traditional gardens, natural landscape gardens, native plant gardens, habitat gardens, and various municipal, commercial, and agency sustainable landscape projects.

Cultivar Varieties

Cultivars are available in a range of colors between yellow and red; one example is the "Santa Cruz Island Gold" variety, originally collected from Santa Cruz Island off the coast of California.

Horticultural Award Status

In the United Kingdom, this plant has earned the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Cultivation Growth Cycle

Though it is a short-lived perennial, it is very often grown as an annual.

Cultivation Requirements

For successful growth, it needs a wet, poorly-drained soil, full sun, and a sheltered position.