Cardinal Flower
By Lise Fracalossi
Lobelia cardinalis
Native to: All of New England
Life cycle: Short-Lived Perennial
Light: Full/Partial Sun
Soil Moisture: Wet to Medium-Wet
Height: 2-4’
Spread: 8-12”
Spacing: 6-16”
Blooms: July-September
Bloom Color: Red
Natural Habitat: Wetlands and streamsides
Pairs Well With: Boneset, blue iris, coastal Joe-Pye weed, blue lobelia, heart-leaved Alexander, and Northern lady fern
Benefits: Bird Favorite, Pollinator Favorite, Attracts Hummingbirds, Host Plant (eg. Spicebush Swallowtail, Pink Washed Looper Moth), Deer/Rabbit Resistant, Low Maintenance
“In midsummer, tall spikes of deep red flowers cover the plant and attract hummingbirds and butterflies. A dramatic plant for moist gardens and wet areas in sun or shade. A short-lived perennial that will reseed readily if happy.”
–Wild Seed Project
“Cardinal lobelia is a great late-summer stunner, growing well in moist, sandy soils in sun to partial shade. Its incredible red flowers attract more than just human eyes– it’s also a great pollinator plant for bees, butterflies and hummingbirds!”
–Native Plant Trust
Lobelia cardinalis (cardinal flower). Photo by Lise Fracalossi, August 31, 2019, Large Town Forest, Lunenburg, MA.
Featured image: Cardinal flower, photographed August 22, 2021, in Ausable Marsh WMA, Peru, NY, by Lise Fracalossi