NPSOT Logo

Cardinal Flower

Lobelia cardinalis

Other common name(s):

Family:

Campanulaceae (Bellflower Family)

Plant Ecoregion Distribution Map

Chihuahuan Deserts, Edwards Plateau, Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes, High Plains, Southwestern Tablelands, Texas Blackland Prairies, Western Gulf Coastal Plain
Chihuahuan Basins and Playas, Low Mountains and Bajadas
Balcones Canyonlands, Edwards Plateau Woodland, Llano Uplift
Northern Humid Gulf Coastal Prairies
Canadian/Cimarron High Plains
Canadian/Cimarron Breaks, Semiarid Canadian Breaks
Floodplains and Low Terraces1, Northern Blackland Prairie, Southern Blackland Prairie
Flatwoods, Floodplains and Low Terraces3, Pleistocene Fluvial Terraces, Red River Bottomlands, Southern Tertiary Uplands, Tertiary Uplands

Plant Characteristics

Growth Form

Herbaceous

Height

1
to
6
ft.

Spread

to
ft.

Leaf Retention

Deciduous

Lifespan

Perennial

Habitat and Care Requirements

Soil Type(s)

Sand, Loam, Clay, Limestone, Rich, Moist

Light Requirement

Sun, Part Shade, Shade

Water Requirement

Medium, High

Native Habitat

Grassland, Woodland, Wetland or Riparian

Bloom and Attraction

Bloom Color

Red

Bloom Season

Summer, Fall

Seasonal Interest

Nectar, Flowers

Wildlife Benefit

Butterflies, Hummingbirds

Maintenance

The soil must be kept moist at all times. A winter mulching in northern regions is beneficial. Propagation: Seeds, Stem cutting,

Comments

Blooms May-October. Showy red flowers . Very attractive at the edge of a woodland garden. Good in both wetland and non wetland gardens. Nectar: Cloudless Giant Sulphur, Pipevine Swallowtail, Spicebush Swallowtail. WARNING: all parts are poisonous.
Previous Scientific Name(s): Synonym/s: Lobelia cardinalis ssp. graminea, Lobelia cardinalis var. graminea, Lobelia cardinalis var. meridionalis, Lobelia cardinalis var. multiflora, Lobelia cardinalis var. phyllostachya, Lobelia cardinalis var. propinqua, Lobelia cardinalis var. pseudosplendens, Lobelia fulgens, Lobelia splendens

References

1) Griffith, Bryce, Omernick & Rodgers (2007). Ecoregions of Texas. 2) Miller, George O., Landscaping with Native Plants of Texas 2nd Ed., 2013, pg 48, 53. 3) Wasowski and Wasowski, Native Texas Plants Landscaping Region by Region, 1991, pg. 194-195. 4) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LOCA2. 5) https://portal.torcherbaria.org/portal/taxa/index.php?taxon=Lobelia+cardinalis&formsubmit=Search+Terms. 6) http://bonap.net/TDC/Image/Map?taxonType=Species&taxonId=7041&locationType=County&mapType=Normal. 7) https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=34505#null

Download a 1 page PDF file for this plant, suitable for sharing, printing, and plant sales. Includes an ecoregion map, and a QR code back to this page.

Downloading PDFs only works on desktop browsers

You can favorite this plant and others and maintain a list of your favorite native plants below. You can also unfavorite a plant and clear your list. Click on a plant to go to it.

      No Favorites