Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Family: Campanulaceae · Also called Lobelia, Red Lobelia, Scarlet Lobelia, Lobelia cardinalis var. meridionalis, Lobelia splendens, Lobelia graminea var. phyllostachya
Green & Fresh · Summer–Autumn bloomer
Cardinal flower is the most intense red in the North American wild, spikes of scarlet tubular flowers that seem to glow in the dappled light of stream banks and wet meadows. The red is so pure and vivid that the plant is visible from great distances, drawing hummingbirds like a beacon. Nothing else in the temperate flora produces this exact shade.
distinction, health, splendor
In the Victorian language of flowers, cardinal flower means “Distinction and splendor”. Named for the intense red of a Catholic cardinal's robes. Queen Henrietta Maria of France supposedly laughed with delight upon receiving specimens in the 1620s, it was one of the first American wildflowers to reach European gardens. Native Americans used it medicinally as a love charm and to treat various ailments. It's now threatened in some states by habitat loss.
Did You Know?
Cardinal flower's tubular shape and pure red color are specifically adapted for ruby-throated hummingbird pollination, the tube is too long for most bees, and birds can't see blue/UV patterns that guide bees. It's a perfect example of co-evolution. Despite being North American, it was hybridized in Europe to produce blue, pink, and purple varieties.
Stream banks, wet meadows, swamp edges, and moist woodland in eastern North America
Cardinal Flower is native to Eastern North America. It naturally grows in stream banks, wet meadows, swamp edges, and moist woodland in eastern north america.
Scent Profile
“Essentially unscented, cardinal flower is pollinated by hummingbirds, which don't use scent. The screaming scarlet color is all the advertisement needed.”
Quick Reference
- Scientific NameLobelia cardinalis
- FamilyCampanulaceae
- Native ToEastern North America
- Bloom SeasonSummer–Autumn
- LifespanPerennial
Cultural Significance
Named for the intense red of a Catholic cardinal's robes. Queen Henrietta Maria of France supposedly laughed with delight upon receiving specimens in the 1620s, it was one of the first American wildflowers to reach European gardens. Native Americans used it medicinally as a love charm and to treat various ailments. It's now threatened in some states by habitat loss.