How to grow Cardinal Flower

Prefers constant moisture.¹

Hardy native water-loving perennial with shockingly red flowers. Fantastic hummingbird plant. The real down side to the red blooms is that it can make other plants in the landscape look drab in comparison. May be short lived; may self seed enthusiastically. Reportedly it is more of an annual in colder zones.

If you are looking for a good rain garden or swale plant, be sure to consider it!

May be Winter Sown.

Lightly cover the seeds.

By our calculations*, you should look at sowing Cardinal flower about 105 days before your last frost date .

In native habitat, found along creek stream banks – something to keep in mind.

Transplants well as long as it is kept moist and the roots are not disturbed.

Ensure that temperatures are mild and all chance of frost has passed before planting out, as Cardinal flower is a very hardy plant.

You can allow seed pods to dry on the plants. Might want to mark the stems when they’re in bloom so it’s easy to find them later in the season when they don’t look like much.

Saved seeds can be kept in the refrigerator.

These estimates for how long Cardinal flower takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

Our when to plant Cardinal flower estimates are relative to your last frost date.

The botanical epithet is from the Latin cardinalis meaning something important. The Catholic Cardinal )who is important) wears a bright red Cassock. The cardinal bird and the cardinal Lobelia both are red like the Catholic Cardinals Cassock.

The common name refers to the red robes worn by Roman Catholic Cardinals.¹

Hummingbirds like L. cardinalis, cardinals do not.¹

Cardinalflower, Cardinal plant, Lobelia

Lobelia cardinalis L.

¹ Missrouri Botanical Garden

² http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?kempercode=d940