The Cardinal Flower ( Lobelia ) is a genus of 442 species of flowering plants in the bellflower family with a variety of characteristics. Some are annuals, others are perennials, some grow as 2 or 3 foot tall flowers, while others grow as shrubs. There are even some species that grow in water. However, the various species do share alternate, simple leaves and abundant, two-lipped tubular flowers in vibrant colors of white, red, or blue. In general, the Cardinal Flower is a well-traveled plant with species found in all parts of the world. The genus name honors Matthias de l'Obel, a 16th century French physician and botanist. The Cardinal Flower does best in rich, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. In general, the genus requires consistent moisture and some shade when grown in areas with hot summers. In the wild, Cardinal Flowers are most often found in bogs and along streams. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests. Snails and slugs are sometimes found among the foliage.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.