Lobelia cardinalis
Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- loh-BEE-lee-ah kar-dih-NAL-iss
- This plant has medium severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Cardinal flower is an herbaceous perennial in the bellflower family (Campanulaceae) and native to the eastern United States. It is found in moist locations and may grow 4 to 5 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. The common name comes from its red flowers and is in reference to the red robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals.
This plant is easily grown in rich, medium to wet soil and in part shade to full sun, although afternoon shade is appreciated in hot summer climates. The soil should never be allowed to dry out, and it will tolerate brief flooding. Root mulch can be applied to help retain soil moisture and to protect the root system in cold winter climates. Propagate this plant either by seed or by separating the rosettes from the parent plant in the spring.
The brilliant red blooms of the cardinal flower first mature in late summer and continue into mid-fall. The showy flowers begin opening at the bottom of a terminal flower spike and are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. A number of hybrid cultivars of the Cardinal flower have been produced; the most popular is 'Queen Victoria' with blood-red flowers and bronze foliage.
This plant is effective in moist areas of woodland shade gardens, wet meadows or along streams and ponds. It may be used in butterfly, native, pollinator, rain and water gardens. It also adds late summer bloom and height to borders as long as the soil is kept uniformly moist.
This plant was selected as the 1982, 1983 and 2001 NC Wildflower of the Year, a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina.
This is one of the 20 key pollinator plants that should be blooming in August for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census 2025.
Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating.
Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Snails and slugs may damage the foliage.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- 'Pink Flame'
Bright pink flowers - 'Pink Flamingo'
Soft pink flowers - 'Queen Victoria'
Hybrid cultivar; Blood-red flowers and bronze foliage
- 'Pink Flame'
- 'Pink Flame', 'Pink Flamingo', 'Queen Victoria'
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- 'Pink Flame'
Bright pink flowers - 'Pink Flamingo'
Soft pink flowers - 'Queen Victoria'
Hybrid cultivar; Blood-red flowers and bronze foliage
- 'Pink Flame'
- 'Pink Flame', 'Pink Flamingo', 'Queen Victoria'
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lobelia
- Species:
- cardinalis
- Family:
- Campanulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern United States
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Its flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Dimensions:
- Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Perennial
- Poisonous
- Water Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
- Maintenance:
- Low
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Wet
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- 3 feet-6 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Fruit Description:
- Displays from August to November
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Pink
- Red/Burgundy
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Lipped
- Tubular
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- Erect, terminal spikes (racemes) of large, cardinal red flowers. Each flower is tubular 2 lipped about 1.5 in. long. A tube of stamens projects upward through a cleft in the corol. The tubular flowers are 2-lipped, with the three lobes of the lower lip appearing more prominent than the two lobes of the upper lip. The flowers begin opening at the bottom of a terminal flower spike and continue to the top. Although not common, white and rose-colored varieties also exist. Blooms from July to October.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Lanceolate
- Leaf Margin:
- Serrate
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Finely-toothed, lance-shaped, pointed on both ends, shiny dark green leaves (to 4" long). The leaves form on branched, alternate-leaved stalks rising typically to a height of 2-3' (infrequently to 4')
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Naturalized Area
- Riparian
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rain Garden
- Water Garden
- Attracts:
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
- Problem for Cats
- Problem for Dogs
- Problem for Horses
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Medium
- Poison Symptoms:
- TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. Nausea, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, exhaustion and weakness, dilation of pupils, convulsions, and coma, abdominal pain, heart rhythm disturbances.
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Alkaloids lobelamine, lobeline, and others, plus a volatile oil
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
