ornamentalFamily: CampanulaceaeGenus: LobeliaSpecies: cardinalis

Cultivar

Cardinal Flower

Lobelia cardinalis

Lobelia cardinalis, commonly known as Cardinal Flower, is a moisture-loving perennial featuring dramatic spikes of vivid red, tubular flowers. It is a standout choice for rain gardens, pond edges, or any consistently damp area of the landscape. Beyond its ornamental appeal, it is highly regarded for its ability to draw hummingbirds and butterflies into the garden during the summer months.

Cardinal Flower is a striking perennial known for its intense red, tubular flowers that attract hummingbirds. It thrives in moist, boggy soils and is an excellent choice for waterside gardens.

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18-plant pack · Ship

$65.46per pack

$65.46 total

360 plants available · max 20 packs

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Cultivar Story

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Inspiration for future Agardeni growing environments.

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Marketplace Plant

A realistic representation of the starter plants offered in 18, 36, and 72 plant quantities.

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Aspirational Garden

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Plant Detail

A closer look at the fruit, flower, foliage, or mature defining characteristics of this cultivar.

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Repotting / Start Growing

Begin with a starter plant and establish it in a larger pot using quality potting soil with beneficials and fertilizer.

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Plant Profile

Grow Cardinal Flower with confidence

Key growing information first, with the complete reviewed cultivar profile available when you want it.

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Sun

Full sun to partial shade.

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Water

Requires high moisture. Maintain consistently wet or damp soil throughout the growing season; avoid allowing the soil to dry out.

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Mature size

2-4 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide.

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Hardiness

3-9

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Growth habit

Upright, clumping perennial.

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Plant type

Perennial

View Plant Data

Care, size, flowering, climate, soil, health, and additional reviewed data.

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Good to know

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Growing note

Requires consistently moist to wet soil to thrive; will not tolerate extended dry periods. Excellent for sites with poor drainage.

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Climate note

Hardy perennial tolerant of winter cold within its zone range. Prefers moderate summer temperatures.

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Flower / fruit

Produces tall, terminal racemes of deep scarlet, tubular flowers from mid-to-late summer through early autumn.

Growing & Care

Everyday care, growth, feeding, and pruning guidance.

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Sun / light

Full sun to partial shade.

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Growth rate

Moderate.

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Fertilizer

Generally does not require heavy feeding. A light application of balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring can support growth.

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Pruning

Cut back spent flower stalks after blooming to encourage tidiness. Stems can be left over winter to provide winter interest or protective cover.

Care notes

Requires consistently moist to wet soil to thrive; will not tolerate extended dry periods. Excellent for sites with poor drainage.

Size & Habit

How the plant grows and the space it needs at maturity.

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Mature size

2-4 feet tall, 1-2 feet wide.

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Growth habit

Upright, clumping perennial.

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Spacing

12-18 inches apart.

Flower / Fruit

Flowering, fruiting, pollination, bloom, and harvest behavior.

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Flowering / fruiting

Produces tall, terminal racemes of deep scarlet, tubular flowers from mid-to-late summer through early autumn.

Climate & Hardiness

Cold, heat, chill, and regional growing considerations.

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Hardiness zones

3-9

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Temperature

Hardy perennial tolerant of winter cold within its zone range. Prefers moderate summer temperatures.

Soil & Water

Moisture, drainage, soil, and pH preferences.

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Watering

Requires high moisture. Maintain consistently wet or damp soil throughout the growing season; avoid allowing the soil to dry out.

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Soil

Rich, organic, moisture-retentive soils. Performs best in heavy, silty, or clay-based soils that mimic wetland conditions.

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Soil pH

6.0-7.5

More Plant Data

19 additional reviewed fields from this Plant.id.

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Container Growing

Suitable for container gardening if kept in a self-watering container or a pot set within a tray of water to ensure constant moisture.

Family

Campanulaceae

Foliage Look

Bright green, smooth, lance-shaped foliage arranged in a basal rosette.

Foliage Rules

Leaves are alternate, lanceolate, and bright green. Avoid showing variegation or fuzzy textures.

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Fruit Flower Look

Vivid, cardinal-red tubular blossoms arranged in long, vertical clusters.

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Fruit Flower Rules

Flowers are tubular with distinct, asymmetrical lobes. Blooms appear in a vertical spike, opening from bottom to top.

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Growth Habit Rules

Maintain an upright, vertical growth orientation for mature flowering stems. Do not depict as a sprawling or wide shrub.

Mature Plant Look

Tall, elegant, vibrant red spikes rising above a base of green foliage.

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Mature Stage Morphology

Develops a tall, unbranched or sparsely branched flowering spike rising from the basal rosette; foliage becomes more sparse as it climbs the stem.

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Morphology Rules

Ensure the plant height is expressed in the tall, vertical flower spikes characteristic of this genus.

Plant Faqs

Does Cardinal Flower require standing water? It thrives in very moist to wet soil and is excellent near ponds, but it does not require full submersion. Will this attract wildlife? Yes, the vivid red flowers are a favorite of hummingbirds and butterflies. How tall does it grow? It typically reaches 2 to 4 feet in height depending on local conditions and soil moisture.

Root Look

Healthy, white to tan fibrous root ball.

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Soil Look

Dark, rich, damp soil surface, possibly with slight mulch or algae hints given the aquatic preference.

Starter Stage

Young starter plants appear as small, basal rosettes of smooth, lance-shaped green leaves.

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Starter Stage Morphology

Low-growing, dense rosettes with simple, alternate, slightly serrated green foliage; roots are typically vigorous and fiber-heavy.

Video Voiceover Script

Welcome to Agardeni, where inspiration for gardening helps us imagine how and where we will grow Cardinal Flower. This is Cardinal Flower, available as 18, 36, and 72 plant starter trays through the Agardeni Marketplace. Let Cardinal Flower become part of your aspirational plan, helping you imagine the future aquatic setting you want to create. These brilliant, tubular, cardinal-red flowers rise on tall, elegant spikes to create a vertical statement that naturally attracts hummingbirds and pollinators. Establish your starter plug in a four-inch pot with quality, well-draining potting mix, and later move it to your final moist garden location. Find your inspiration with Agardeni. Explore real plants and real availability. Start. Plan. Grow.

Youtube Tags

Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower Agardeni perennial plants rain garden hummingbird garden moisture loving plants aquatic plants native perennials garden inspiration

Youtube Video Summary

Discover the vibrant beauty of Lobelia cardinalis, the iconic Cardinal Flower. This moisture-loving perennial is a perfect addition to water-edge gardens, providing striking red blooms that hummingbirds adore.

Youtube Video Title

Growing Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)

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