Rain Garden Plants: Cardinal Flower

Forms clumps of basal leaves. Has alternate, finely toothed, lance-shaped leaves on stalks; terminal spikes of showy, red, five-lobed flowers; and three lower petals and two upper petals. Needs disturbance. Attractive to insects and hummingbirds; long bloom period.

• Height: 24 to 48 inches
• Bloom color: Red
• Bloom time: August to September
• Hardiness zones: 3 to 9
• Salt tolerance: Somewhat tolerant
• Spreading habit: Clump-forming; self-seeds

Site Conditions

• Sun: Sun/partial shade
• Soil: Humus-rich soil; medium loam, clay loam, limestone-based, sandy, sandy loam, clay
• Hydrologic zones: Wet/moist; inundation tolerant

Sources

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Mahr, Susan, “Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis," University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension.

Missouri Botanical Garden, “Plant Finder."

Northern Neck Chapter of the Virginia Native Plant Society, “Salt Tolerant Northern Neck Native Plants."

Prepared by Jessica Chou, Jodi Sulpizio, and Constance Schmotzer.

For a printable PDF version of this article, contact Jodi Sulpizio at jrb143@psu.edu.