Photo courtesy of Spotswood Greenery
Photo courtesy of Spotswood Greenery
Photo courtesy of Spotswood Greenery
Photo courtesy of Spotswood Greenery
Photo courtesy of Spotswood Greenery
Lobelia cardinalis
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Cardinal flower produces the most saturated red of any native perennial, on spikes that reach 2 to 4 feet in late summer. Lobelia cardinalis grows 1 to 2 feet wide in full sun to part sun, hardy from Zone 4 through Zone 8.
The flowers are tubular and open from the bottom of the spike upward over several weeks. Hummingbirds are the primary pollinator, and the flower is shaped so that almost nothing else can reach the nectar.
This is a short-lived perennial, often three years, and it keeps itself going by self-sowing. Leave the seedheads standing and let it move around a planting rather than expecting the original plant to persist.
Cardinal flower grows wild along streambanks and in wet meadows, so it takes wet ground and even shallow standing water. It struggles in a dry bed. A winter mulch helps, though avoid burying the basal rosette, which needs to stay at the surface. Deer leave it alone.
Height 2'- 4' Spread 1'- 2'
USDA Hardiness Zones 4-8
Lowest Temperatures -30°F to -20°F
Full sun to part sun- at least 4 hours direct sun per day
AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI, WV
