Lobelia cardinalis

Photographs belong to the photographers who allow use for FNPS purposes only. Please contact the photographer for all other uses.

Find This Plant at a Native Nursery

FANN

Learn More About Plant Status in FL

FL Atlas

Cardinal Flower

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
Noted for:Showy flowers

Landscaping

Recommended Uses:Wildflower in moist garden, edge of water garden, understory plant in wet woods or stream edges
Propagation:Seed or division
Availability:Native nurseries, FNPS plant sales, Seed
Light: Full Sun,  Part Shade,  Shade
Moisture Tolerance:
always floodedextremely dry
 (Aquatic ----- to ----- Somewhat moist, no flooding)
Moisture Tolerance: Aquatic ----- to ----- Somewhat moist, no flooding
Salt Water Flooding Tolerance:Not salt tolerant of inundation by salty or brackish water.
Salt Spray/ Salty Soil Tolerance:Low/no tolerance of salty wind or direct salt spray
Soil or other substrate:Pond, lake, or stream bottom, Loam, Organic material (muck), Sand
Soil pH:

Ecology

Wildlife:
 

Pollinated by hummingbirds.
Insects:
 

  • 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 (Illinois Wildflowers website).
Native Habitats:Riverine swamps, spring run swamps, bogs, in mats of floating vegetation, wet ditches.

Distribution and Planting Zones

Natural Range in Florida
USDA Zones

Suitable to grow in:
8A 8B 9A 9B 

USDA zones are based on minimum winter temperatures