Cardinal Flower

Lobelia cardinalis

The cardinal flower is a native perennial plant with:

• Red, tubular flowers with two lips and three lobes. Flowers grow on alternate sides of unbranched stalks and bloom from July to September.
• Finely-toothed, lance-shaped leaves that grow about 4 inches long.

Cardinal flowers grow to 2 to 4 feet tall.

Where does the cardinal flower grow?

Cardinal flowers range from New Brunswick and Minnesota south to the Gulf of Mexico. They typically grow in moist areas with full or partial sun, including seeps, wooded swamps, fresh tidal and non-tidal marshes, and along the banks of ponds, rivers and streams.

How does the cardinal flower reproduce?

Cardinal flower must reseed itself each year. The plant can be propagated by seed or cutting.

Other facts about the cardinal flower:

• Cardinal flowers are a great addition to any garden because they attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
• The Iroquois had many medicinal uses for cardinal flower. They boiled the root together with chicory (Cichorium intybus) root and used the liquid to treat fever sores. They also mashed roots, stems, leaves, and blossoms to treat cramps. The plant was also used as a vomit inducer for treating an upset stomach.
• The Pawnee Indians used the roots and flowers of cardinal flower as a love charm.