The Cardinals guard (Pachystachys coccinea) is a perennial evergreen shrub native to French Guinea, Brazil, and Peru It has ovate to elliptic dark leaves and red flowers on terminal spikes, and can grow to be two to six feet tall, though cultivated plants tend to be shorter. The genus name Pachystachys is derived from the Greek for thick spike in reference to the flowering spikes. The species name Coccinea is derived from the Latin for scarlet in reference to the deep red flowers.