A spectacularly red wildflower whose long tubular flowers are perfectly engineered for ruby-throated hummingbird bills — virtually no other pollinator can reach the nectar.

Also called: Red Lobelia

Native status: Native to eastern and central US

§ Quick facts

SizeHeight 60–180 cm (2–6 ft)
WeightN/A
LifespanShort-lived perennial; 3–5 years; reseeds prolifically
OrderAsterales
FamilyCampanulaceae

§ Encyclopedia

Lobelia cardinalis, the cardinal flower, is a species of flowering plant in the bellflower family Campanulaceae native to the Americas, from southeastern Canada south through the eastern and southwestern United States, Mexico and Central America to northern Colombia.

Source: Wikipedia — Lobelia cardinalis Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Tall plant with lance-shaped leaves; spikes of brilliant crimson-red tubular flowers (3 cm long) with distinctive bilateral structure — two upright "ears" above three drooping "legs."

Similar species. Great Blue Lobelia (blue flowers, similar shape). No other US wildflower has true cardinal-red flowers of this shape.

Voice. N/A

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. N/A — photosynthesis

Behavior. Native wildflower of moist meadows and streambanks. Brilliant scarlet tubular flowers are almost exclusively pollinated by Ruby-throated Hummingbirds — the flower's tube is too long for most bees, and the color is at the red end of bee vision range but vivid to birds. State flower of nowhere yet — but should be a strong candidate for any state on flyway routes. Reseeds readily and naturalizes well in moist garden corners.

§ Range

Throughout most of eastern and central US

§ Habitat

Stream banks, wet meadows, low woodland, shaded gardens

§ Threats

Loss of moist meadow and stream-side habitat, deer browsing on garden plantings.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the cardinal flower is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Plant native cardinal flower in shaded garden areas with moist soil. Maintain natural stream buffers. Use deer-resistant fencing if needed.

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§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • USDA Plants Database
  • Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
  • Hummingbird pollination studies
  • New England Wild Flower Society