Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS
Photo by: Shirley Denton, Suncoast Chapter FNPS

Nomenclature

Common Name:

cardinal flower

Synonym(s):

Genus species:

Lobelia cardinalis

Family:

Campanulaceae

Plant Specifics

Form:

flower

Size:

3-5 ft tall by 1 ft wide

Life Span:

Long-lived perennial

Flower Color:

red

Fruit Color:

brown,NA

Phenology:

Winter dormant. Blooms late summer-early winter. While perennial, some plants may die after flowering.

Noted For:

Showy Flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:

Wildflower in moist garden, edge of water garden, understory plant in wet woods or stream edges

Considerations:

Availability:

Native Nurseries, FNPS Plant Sales, Seed

Propagation:

Seed, division, or cuttings.

Light:

Full Sun, Part Sun, Shade

Moisture Tolerance:

Always Flooded------------------------------------------------Extremely Dry

Coming Soon!

Aquatic ---to--- Somewhat moist, no flooding

Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:

Unknown

Salt Spray/Salty Soil Tolerance:

Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray

Soil or Other Substrate:

Sand, Loam

Soil pH:

Acidic

Suitable to Grow In:

8A,8B,9A,9B

Ecology

Wildlife:

Butterflies, Hummingbirds

The nectar attracts various Swallowtail butterflies.





Bumblebees will steal nectar through slits in the tubular corolla.





Halictid bees sometimes gather pollen, but they are apparently ineffective at pollination (Hillty, ).

Attracts hummingbirds.

Native Habitats:

Riverine swamps, spring run swamps, bogs, in mats of floating vegetation, wet ditches.

Natural Range in Florida:

Comments:

Ethnobotany:

General Comments: