Cardinal's Guard is a tropical shrub native to the West Indies and South America that brings year-round brilliance to warm gardens and indoor spaces. Its narrow, tubular flowers in bright scarlet bloom primarily in summer when grown in cooler climates, rising above green bracts in striking terminal spikes. Hardy in zones 10-11, this evergreen grows 2 to 6 feet tall in its native habitat but remains more compact when cultivated in containers, reaching 12 to 24 inches in height with a spread of 12 to 36 inches. In colder regions, gardeners treat it as a summer annual or bring potted specimens indoors for year-round enjoyment.
Full Sun
Moderate
10-11
24in H x 36in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
The intense scarlet flowers of Cardinal's Guard command attention with their distinctive two-lipped form arranged in dense, green-bracted spikes. In tropical settings, this shrub blooms continuously, but in temperate climates it concentrates its flowering energy into summer, creating a reliable burst of color when many other plants are slowing down. Humidity-loving and adaptable to both ground planting and container culture, it transitions seamlessly between outdoor garden beds and indoor windowsills, thriving in warm, sunny spots where consistent moisture keeps it vigorous.
Cardinal's Guard is grown primarily as an ornamental shrub valued for its striking scarlet flowers. In tropical zones 10 and 11, it serves as a year-round landscape specimen, while in cooler climates gardeners cultivate it as a summer annual or container plant that can be moved indoors during winter months. Its dramatic flower spikes make it popular for adding tropical character to patios, conservatories, and warm indoor living spaces.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Transplant Cardinal's Guard outdoors after the last frost date when soil has warmed. Space plants 12 to 36 inches apart, depending on mature width desired. This shrub is typically grown as an annual in cooler regions and moved indoors before temperatures drop.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Pachystachys coccinea carries the common name Cardinal's Guard from its native range across the West Indies and tropical South America, regions where it flourishes as a reliable shrub in warm, humid climates. The plant made its way into cultivation through the botanical networks of tropical plant enthusiasts and gardeners seeking dramatic flowering shrubs for warm regions, eventually becoming a fixture in botanical collections and nurseries worldwide.”