Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower), a top performer ideal for the late summer garden, is a well-known tall, clump-forming perennial with an abundance of flower spikes densely packed with vivid, cardinal red, two-lipped blooms, measuring 2 in. long (5 cm), from midsummer to early fall. This architectural plant offers vertical flair to the environment by growing on upright, alternate-leaved stalks that rise above a rosette of lance-shaped, glossy brilliant green leaves. Cardinal Flower tends to be short-lived despite being extremely hardy, low maintenance, and largely pest and disease-free, yet it may self-seed in optimum growth conditions (without becoming invasive)!
| Plant Type |
Perennials |
| Hardiness Zone |
3-9 |
| Exposure |
Full Sun, Partial Sun |
| Season of Interest |
Summer, Mid Summer, Late Summer, Fall |
| Height | 2' - 4' (ft) |
| Spread | 12" - 18" (in), 18" - 24" (in) |
| Spacing |
12"-24" (in) |
| Water Needs |
High |
| Maintenance |
Low |
| Soil Type |
Loam |
| Soil PH |
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral |
| Soil Drainage |
Poorly Drained |
| Characteristics |
Plant of Merit, Showy |
| Tolerance |
Deer, Rabbit, Wet Soil |
| Attracts |
Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Garden Uses |
Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens, Water Gardens |
Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower) | Cardinal Flower, Water Gladiole, Red Bay, Scarlet Lobelia, Slinkweed, Bog Sage, Hog's Physic, Indian Pink, Lobelia fulgens, Lobelia splendens
|| Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower), a top performer ideal for the late summer garden, is a well-known tall, clump-forming perennial with an abundance of flower spikes densely packed with vivid, cardinal red, two-lipped blooms, measuring 2 in. long (5 cm), from midsummer to early fall. This architectural plant offers vertical flair to the environment by growing on upright, alternate-leaved stalks that rise above a rosette of lance-shaped, glossy brilliant green leaves. Cardinal Flower tends to be short-lived despite being extremely hardy, low maintenance, and largely pest and disease-free, yet it may self-seed in optimum growth conditions (without becoming invasive)!
Full Sun, Partial Sun,
Summer, Mid Summer, Late Summer, Fall,
High Water Needs, Low Maintenance, Poorly Drained,
Plant of Merit, Showy,
Deer Tolerant, Rabbit Tolerant, Wet Soil Tolerant,
Attracts Birds, Attracts Butterflies, Attracts Hummingbirds, Beds and Borders, Bog Gardens, Ponds and Streams, Rain Gardens, Water Gardens
