Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Nature's most brilliant red wildflower creates an unforgettable display with its intense scarlet blooms that seem to glow in shade gardens. This native beauty is a hummingbird magnet, drawing ruby-throated hummingbirds from miles around with its tubular flowers perfectly designed for their long beaks. Thriving in moist soils where many plants struggle, it brings vibrant color to pond edges, rain gardens, and woodland borders.
Harvest
N/Ad
Days to harvest
Sun
Full sun to partial shade
Zones
3–9
USDA hardiness
Height
4-5 feet
Planting Timeline
Showing dates for Cardinal Flower in USDA Zone 7
All Zone 7 native-wildflower →Zone Map
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Cardinal Flower · Zones 3–9
Growing Details
Zone-by-Zone Planting Calendar
Complete Growing Guide
Light: Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day), Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day), Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours). Soil: High Organic Matter. Drainage: Moist, Occasionally Wet. Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in.. Spread: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.. Spacing: 12 inches-3 feet, 3 feet-6 feet. Maintenance: 'Pink Flame'Bright pink flowers 'Pink Flamingo'Soft pink flowers 'Queen Victoria'Hybrid cultivar; Blood-red flowers and bronze foliage, 'Pink Flame', 'Pink Flamingo', 'Queen Victoria'. Propagation: Division, Seed. Regions: Coastal, Mountains, Piedmont.
Harvesting
Displays from August to November
Color: Brown/Copper. Type: Capsule. Length: < 1 inch. Width: < 1 inch.
Harvest time: Fall
Bloom time: Fall, Summer
History & Origin
Origin: Eastern United States
Advantages
- +Disease resistance: Wet Soil
- +Attracts: Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Pollinators
- +Wildlife value: Its flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators.
- +Low maintenance
Considerations
- -Toxic (Flowers, Fruits, Leaves, Roots, Sap/Juice, Seeds, Stems): Medium severity
Companion Plants
Plant Together
Wild Ginger
Provides ground cover and retains moisture in the shared shade habitat
Astilbe
Similar moisture and partial shade requirements, creates layered woodland garden
Hosta
Complementary foliage provides backdrop while sharing moist soil preferences
Ferns
Natural woodland companions that help maintain soil moisture and humidity
Wild Columbine
Both attract hummingbirds and thrive in similar moist, partially shaded conditions
Monarda
Fellow native that attracts beneficial insects and shares similar growing conditions
Heuchera
Provides contrasting foliage texture while tolerating same moist, shaded environment
Impatiens
Shares preference for moist soil and partial shade, extends blooming season
Keep Apart
Black Walnut
Produces juglone which is toxic to many plants including Cardinal Flower
Lavender
Requires dry, well-drained soil opposite to Cardinal Flower's moist soil needs
Rosemary
Needs dry Mediterranean conditions that conflict with Cardinal Flower's moisture requirements
Pests & Disease Resistance
Resistance
Generally healthy, may get leaf spot in very wet conditions
Common Pests
Slugs, snails, aphids
Diseases
Crown rot if soil drainage is poor, leaf spot