Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Also listed as Dortmanna cardinalis, Lobelia coccinea
Also known as Scarlet Lobelia
Climate Match for your location
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Cardinal flower is a striking native perennial with tall spikes of brilliant red tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. It thrives in moist to wet conditions and prefers partial shade, making it ideal for bog gardens and stream banks.
Why grow it
Cardinal flower offers reliable color and wildlife value in wet sites where many ornamentals struggle. Unlike most garden perennials, it tolerates consistently moist to saturated soil and thrives in partial shade, making it a better choice than drier-site natives for streamside restoration or rain garden plantings. Its tall flower spikes provide vertical interest and sustained hummingbird activity through mid to late summer, complementing the shorter stature and earlier bloom times of many other native wetland plants.
Watch out for
Flowering performance declines noticeably in dry conditions or full sun, even if plants survive. Seedlings are very small and slow to establish in their first year, so transplants need consistent moisture and mulching to prevent washout during establishment. Plants are short-lived perennials (typically 3-4 years) and rely on self-seeding to persist in a garden, which may require deadheading discipline if volunteer seedlings are unwanted.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Campanulaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
Cardinal flower is a striking native perennial with tall spikes of brilliant red tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies. It thrives in moist to wet conditions and prefers partial shade, making it ideal for bog gardens and stream banks.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Cardinal Flower grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Cardinal flower offers reliable color and wildlife value in wet sites where many ornamentals struggle. Unlike most garden perennials, it tolerates consistently moist to saturated soil and thrives in partial shade, making it a better choice than drier-site natives for streamside restoration or rain garden plantings. Its tall flower spikes provide vertical interest and sustained hummingbird activity through mid to late summer, complementing the shorter stature and earlier bloom times of many other native wetland plants.
Watch out for
Flowering performance declines noticeably in dry conditions or full sun, even if plants survive. Seedlings are very small and slow to establish in their first year, so transplants need consistent moisture and mulching to prevent washout during establishment. Plants are short-lived perennials (typically 3-4 years) and rely on self-seeding to persist in a garden, which may require deadheading discipline if volunteer seedlings are unwanted.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Campanulaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Flood Tolerance
Deer Resistance
Inferred from USDA browse palatability
pH Range
Soil Texture
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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