Cardinal Flowernative
Lobelia cardinalis · Campanulaceae
Field guide
Cardinal flower is a striking native perennial of floodplains, swamps and wet meadows, sending up 2–4 ft. spikes of brilliant scarlet tubular flowers from July to September, its color and form adapted to its primary pollinator, the ruby-throated hummingbird. It demands consistently moist to wet, rich soil in sun to part shade and is short-lived, persisting by prolific self-seeding. It is a nectar source, not a larval host. The Virginia Native Plant Society named it 1991 Wildflower of the Year.
Gardener's notes
The one rule is never let it dry out—keep it in a rain garden or pond edge and it rewards you with hummingbird-magnet scarlet spikes. It's short-lived, so let some flowers go to seed and don't smother the overwintering rosettes with heavy mulch, which causes fatal frost-heave.
Ecology
- Pollinators: ruby-throated hummingbird (primary), swallowtails, native bees
- Birds: hummingbird nectar
Care this season
- Watering: never let it dry out
- Deadheading: may prolong bloom; rebloom is weak
- Watch for: short-lived; let some flowers set seed or the colony fades out
- Toxicity: lobeline toxic in quantity
Meaning
Named for the red robes of Roman Catholic cardinals. Native peoples used roots and leaves medicinally and as love charms; contains toxic lobeline. The most saturated red in the native flora, glowing at dusk—loved for drama and guaranteed hummingbirds.
Sources
- Lobelia cardinalis — Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
- 1991 Wildflower of the Year — Virginia Native Plant Society
- Lobelia cardinalis — Prairie Moon Nursery
Notes: Nectar source, NOT a larval host; short-lived—relies on self-seeding.