Lobelia cardinalis (loh-BEE-lee-ah kar-dih-NAL-iss)
Family: CampanulaceaeNativeHerbaceous (3-15 ft)
Herbaceous (3-15 ft)Native
Cardinal flower is an herbaceous perennial in the bellflower family (Campanulaceae) and native to the eastern United States. It is found in moist locations and may grow 4 to 5 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet wide. The common and scientific names reference the red flowers and their resemblance to the red robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals. This plant is easily grown in rich, medium to wet soil and in part shade to full sun, although afternoon shade is appreciated in hot summer climates. The soil should never be allowed to dry out, and it will tolerate brief flooding. Root mulch can be applied to help retain soil moisture and to protect the root system in cold winter climates. Propagate this plant either by seed or by separating the rosettes from the parent plant in the spring. The brilliant red blooms of the cardinal flower first mature in late summer and continue into mid-fall. The showy flowers begin opening at the bottom of a terminal flower spike and are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. A number of cultivars of the Cardinal flower have been produced; the most popular is 'Queen Victoria' with blood-red flowers and bronze foliage. This plant is effective in moist areas of woodland shade gardens, wet meadows or along streams and ponds. It may be used in butterfly, native, pollinator, rain and water gardens. It also adds late summer bloom and height to borders as long as the soil is kept uniformly moist. This plant was selected as the 1982, 1983 and 2001 NC Wildflower of the Year , a program managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden with some financial support from the Garden Club of North Carolina. This is one of the 20 key pollinator plants that should be blooming in August for the Great Southeast Pollinator Census 2025. Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Snails and slugs may damage the foliage. More information on Lobelia .
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.
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 texture
High Organic Matter
Soil drainage
Moist | Occasionally Wet
Available space
12 inches-3 feet; 3 feet-6 feet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 4 ft. 0 in. - 5 ft. 0 in. | Width: 1 ft. 0 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous (3-15 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Erect
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate
Leaf margin
Serrate
Leaf size
3-6 inches long
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Finely toothed, lance-shaped, pointed on both ends, shiny dark green leaves (to 4 inches long). The leaves form on branched, alternate-leaved stalks rising typically to a height of 2 to 3 feet (infrequently to 4 feet tall)
Flower color
Pink; Red/Burgundy; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme
Flower shape
Lipped; Tubular
Flower size
1-3 inches
Flower detail
Erect, terminal spikes (racemes) of large, cardinal red flowers. The tubular flowers are 2-lipped, with the three lobes of the lower lip appearing more prominent than the two lobes of the upper lip. The flowers begin opening at the bottom of a terminal flower spike and continue to the top. Although not common, white and rose-colored varieties also exist. Blooms from July to October.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Fruit color
Brown/Copper
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Fruit detail
Displays from August to November
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern United States
Wildlife value
Its flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators.
Attracts
Butterflies; Hummingbirds; Pollinators
Play value
Wildlife Food Source
Food & Medicine
Harvest time
Fall
Fruit type
Capsule
Landscape Use
Landscape location
Naturalized Area; Riparian; Woodland
Landscape theme
Butterfly Garden; Native Garden; Pollinator Garden; Rain Garden; Water Garden
Garden tags
#riparian #low maintenance #hummingbird friendly #poisonous #water garden #fire medium flammability #native garden #NC native #native wildflower #Piedmont Mountains FACW #food source hard mast fruit #food source nectar #food source pollen #Coastal FACW #food source fall #butterfly friendly #HS302 #problem for cats #problem for dogs #problem for horses #Audubon #nectar plant late summer #nectar plant mid-fall #nectar plant early fall #nectar plant mid-summer #stormwater demo garden orange co #NC Wildflower of the Year #pollinator plant #wet soils tolerant #poisonous leaves #fall interest #perennial #wildlife friendly #collier preserve tn #wildflower #HS303 #wetland #rain garden #moth friendly
Problems & Resistance
Insect problems
Slugs & Snails on Ornamental Plants
Problems
Poisonous to Humans; Problem for Cats; Problem for Dogs; Problem for Horses
TOXIC ONLY IF LARGE QUANTITIES EATEN. Nausea, depression, vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, exhaustion and weakness, dilation of pupils, convulsions, and coma, abdominal pain, heart rhythm disturbances.
Toxic principle
Alkaloids lobelamine, lobeline, and others, plus a volatile oil