Lobelia cardinalis
This moisture-loving North American native perennial features tall spikes of scarlet tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds and butterflies, blooming from midsummer to early fall in consistently moist soils.
Common Names
Cardinal Flower, Indian Pink, Red Bay, Bog Sage, Red Lobelia, Scarlet Lobelia, Water Gladiole, Slinkweed, Hog's Physic
Summary
Lobelia cardinalis, commonly called cardinal flower, is a native North American herbaceous perennial with tall spikes of scarlet, two-lipped tubular flowers that bloom from midsummer to early fall. Typically 2–4 feet tall, it grows in rich, moist to wet soils and tolerates full sun in cooler regions or partial shade in hotter climates; moisture should be consistently maintained, and brief flooding is tolerated. The plant attracts hummingbirds and butterflies, and all parts contain alkaloids and are toxic if ingested.
Propagation is by seed, division, or cuttings, and the species is hardy in USDA zones 3–9. It prefers moist to very wet conditions and is well suited for rain gardens, water features, borders, ponds, or wildlife plantings due to late-summer color and attraction of hummingbirds and butterflies.
Lifecycle
Perennial (short-lived; typically 2–4 years)
Height
24 inches-4 feet
Spread
12-24 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 3-9
Sunlight Requirements
Ideally Full Sun to Partial Shade; tolerates Full Sun in cooler climates and Partial Shade in hot climates.
Soil Type
Moist, rich in organic matter soil that stays consistently moist; tolerates loam, clay, or sandy soils as long as moisture is maintained.
Soil Drainage
Moist, consistently wet soil
Soil pH
6.0-7.5
Bloom Color
Red
Bloom Time
Summer and Fall
Foliage Color
Green
Fall Foliage Color
Beetroot-red, Purple-black, Deep maroon
Leaf Lifecycle
Deciduous
Growth Rate
Fast
Seasons of Interest
Summer and Fall
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, and Division
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts hummingbirds and butterflies
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- L.
- Publication
- Sp. Pl. : 930 (1753)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Asterales
- Family
- Campanulaceae
- Genus
- Lobelia
Synonyms
Lobelia cardinalis f. cordigera Lobelia cardinalis f. hispidula Lobelia cardinalis var. propinqua Lobelia cardinalis f. splendens Lobelia schiedeana Lobelia ramosa Lobelia punicea Lobelia propinqua Lobelia princeps Lobelia phyllostachya Lobelia graminea Lobelia longifolia Lobelia kerneri Lobelia cordigera Lobelia formosa Lobelia texensis Lobelia splendens Lobelia mucronata Rapuntium splendens Rapuntium coccineum Rapuntium cardinale Rapuntium cordigerum Rapuntium gramineum Rapuntium longifolium Tupa ignescens Lobelia fulgens f. rosea Lobelia fulgens var. propinqua Lobelia splendens var. atrosanguinea Lobelia splendens var. fulgens Lobelia splendens var. ignea Lobelia punicea var. kerneri Lobelia cardinalis var. multiflora Lobelia cardinalis var. meridionalis Lobelia fulgens var. pyrimidalis Lobelia cardinalis var. pseudosplendens Lobelia cardinalis var. phyllostachya Lobelia graminea f. kerneri Lobelia marryattae Lobelia graminea var. phyllostachya Lobelia cardinalis var. candida Lobelia cardinalis var. integerrima Lobelia cardinalis var. angustifolia Lobelia cordigera var. marryattae Lobelia cordigera var. multiflora Lobelia cardinalis var. glandulosa Lobelia cardinalis subsp. graminea Lobelia cardinalis var. hispidula Lobelia cardinalis f. rosea Lobelia cardinalis var. alba Lobelia fulgens f. atrosanguinea Lobelia fulgens var. marryattiae Lobelia fulgens f. maculata Lobelia graminea var. pseudosplendens Dortmanna cardinalis Dortmanna cordigera Dortmanna engelmanniana Dortmanna graminea Dortmanna phyllostachya Lobelia cardinalis f. cardinalis Lobelia cardinalis subsp. cardinalis Lobelia porphyrantha Lobelia ignea Lobelia coccinea Lobelia fulgens Rapuntium fulgens Lobelia fulgens var. multiflora Lobelia graminea var. intermedia Lobelia cordigera var. fatalis Lobelia cardinalis var. graminea Lobelia cardinalis var. texensis Lobelia cardinalis f. alba Lobelia fulgens var. glabriuscula Lobelia splendens f. ignea Lobelia cordigera var. pyramidalis Dortmanna fulgens Dortmanna longifolia Dortmanna splendens