Lobelia cardinalis Linnaeus var. cardinalis. Common name: Cardinal Flower. Phenology: (May-) Jul-Oct. Habitat: Streambanks, riverbanks, marshes, swamp forests. Distribution: NB, QC, ON, MN, CO, UT, and s. CA south to c. peninsular FL, TX, and south through Mexico and Central America to Colombia.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: See Thompson & Lammers (1997) for discussion of taxonomy.
Synonymy ⓘ: = C; = Lobelia cardinalis L. — F, S, McVaugh (1936a); = Lobelia cardinalis L. ssp. cardinalis — GW2, Tx; < Lobelia cardinalis L. — Ar, Fl7, G, Il, K4, Mi, Mo2, NcTx, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV, Spaulding & Barger (2016); > Lobelia cardinalis L. ssp. cardinalis var. cardinalis — Bowden (1982); > Lobelia cardinalis L. ssp. cardinalis var. meridionalis Bowden — Bowden (1982); Lobelia cardinalis L. Basionym: Lobelia cardinalis L. 1753
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Great Plains: FACW (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Midwest: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
- Northcentral & Northeast: OBL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
Heliophily ⓘ: 5
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Sonnia Hill | Original Image ⭷
no rights reserved, uploaded by Alan Weakley source CC0 | Original Image ⭷
© Nate Hartley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Nate Hartley source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Sonnia Hill | Original Image ⭷
© Jim Fowler | Original Image ⭷
© Jim Fowler | Original Image ⭷
© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷Feedback
See something missing or incorrect about Lobelia cardinalis var. cardinalis? Let us know here:
- Please include your name and if possible, email in case when need to clarify what you wrote.
- If you opt out of including email, please be as specific as possible (e.g., which photo is incorrect?)
- Please do not submit questions asking to identify plants or about horticultural topics (e.g., how do I control an invasive plant in my garden?). Instead, those questions can be submitted here for the Carolinas region only.
- Please do not send us feedback about unkeyed species as this work is ongoing.
- Please allow time for flora edits to show in our next data release. We greatly appreciate your feedback but may require extra time to research complicated taxonomic issues.
Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial found in marshes, moist meadows, swamp forests and on stream banks.
Stems: Stems stout, smooth, mostly unbranched.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate (but reduced upward), lance-shaped to lance-oval, 4-5 in. long, with toothed margins.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in a tall, terminal spike; brilliant red; bilaterally symmetric, with two spreading lips, the upper lip 2-lobed and with a protruding, gray-tipped filament tube, and the lower lip split into 3 long, lance-elliptic lobes.
Fruits: Fruit an oval to round capsule.
Comments: Hummingbirds and long-tongued butterflies famously visit these flowers.
Height: 2-4 ft.
plant sale text: Green rosettes of foliage produce stalks of brilliant red flowers in late summer. This southeastern native perennial is very attractive to hummingbirds that drink the nectar from the flowers. Cardinal flower is a perennial favorite because of its beauty and versatility. In the wild, it is found in open meadows and alongside streams. It will add beauty and drama to your perennial border or shade garden. Be sure to keep the winter rosettes free of leaves and mulch. 1982-1983, 2001 N.C. Wildflower of the Year.
bloom table text: Green rosettes of foliage produce stalks of brilliant red flowers in late summer. This southeastern native perennial is very attractive to hummingbirds that drink the nectar from the flowers. Cardinal flower is a perennial favorite because of its beauty and versatility. In the wild, it is found in open meadows and alongside streams. It will add beauty and drama to your perennial border or shade garden. Be sure to keep the winter rosettes free of leaves and mulch. 1982-1983, 2001 N.C. Wildflower of the Year.
description: Erect perennial found in marshes, moist meadows, swamp forests and on stream banks.
stems: Stems stout, smooth, mostly unbranched.
leaves: Leaves alternate, petiolate (but reduced upward), lance-shaped to lance-oval, 4-5 in. long, with toothed margins.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in a tall, terminal spike; brilliant red; bilaterally symmetric, with two spreading lips, the upper lip 2-lobed and with a protruding, gray-tipped filament tube, and the lower lip split into 3 long, lance-elliptic lobes.
fruits: Fruit an oval to round capsule.
comments: Hummingbirds and long-tongued butterflies famously visit these flowers.
cultural notes:
germination code: 1, 4
native range: eastern North America
0 unsaved edits on this page.