Cardinal flower produces tall spikes of vivid red flowers in late summer, bringing height and hummingbird interest to reliably moist garden areas.
- Height
- 121–153 cm / 4–5 ft
- Spread
- 30–61 cm / 1–2 ft
- Light
- Full sun / Partial shade
- Soil moisture
- Moist, well-drained / Wet
- Flowering
- Fall, Summer
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Maintenance
- Low
- USDA zones
- 3a–9b
Planting
Choose rich soil that stays moist or wet, in sun or partial shade. In hot climates, provide afternoon shade; brief flooding is tolerated.
Care
Do not let the soil dry out. Mulch the root area to help retain moisture, and separate young rosettes from the parent plant in spring if needed.
Before planting: Toxic if swallowed, particularly in quantity; it is also harmful to cats, dogs and horses.
Planting Cardinal flower?
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Sources & photo credit
Plant reference: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Content checked . Flowering seasons vary with local climate; USDA zones describe winter cold tolerance.
- Cardinal flower: Marcia Boyle · CC BY 4.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- Great blue lobelia: Joshua Mayer · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- 'Dilys' geranium: Krzysztof Golik · CC BY-SA 4.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.
- Adam's needle yucca: Carl Lewis · CC BY 2.0. Resized, converted to WebP and cropped for display.