Cardinal Flower

Lobelia cardinalis

The Cardinal flower is a striking red beauty that is named after the bright robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals. The brilliant tubular flowers extend along an erect stalk and last for weeks. Leaves are toothed, dark green, and an attractive foil for the flowers. Perfect for moist sites, along the edges of a stream, or where downspouts drain into the soil. It’s particularly attractive when planted at the edge of a woodland garden.

Maintenance and Requirements:

Moisture is the main requirement for cardinal flower – the soil cannot be allowed to dry out or the plant will most likely die. Give it nutrient-rich soil, acidic to neutral, in sun or partial shade. Don’t mulch the plant too heavily over winter, as the rosettes may rot.

Propagation:

Easy to start from seeds, which mature in autumn. Seeds need light to germinate, so sprinkle them on the soils surface; if growing in pots, water from the bottom, so seeds aren’t pushed into the soil by the force of the flow. Plants can be divided in spring or fall.

Good Companions:

For a show stopping late-summer combination, plant cardinal flower with white turtlehead (Chelone glabra). Or, with false hellebore (Verantrum viride), marsh fern (Thelypteris palustris), bone-set (Eupatorium perfoliatum), and great lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica).

Wildlife– Attracts Hummingbirds

Height: 2-4 feet (60 to 120 cm)

Blooming period: mid to late summer

Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Moisture: moist to wet

Habitat: Wet Meadows

Range: Prairies and Northeast North America