PlantsFlowers
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Chicago-region native. Suited to zone 6a.
Red hummingbird flower Fits Pollinator Gardens, Native Plant Gardens, Rain Gardens, Cottage Gardens and Container Gardens.
Pollinator GardensNative Plant GardensRain GardensCottage GardensContainer GardensModerateFlowersAlso Rain GardenRain garden
- Light
- Part shade–sun
- Moisture
- Moist–wet
- Mature size
- 2–4 ft
- Spacing
- 18–30 in
- Bloom or harvest
- Flowers Jul–Sep
- How it spreads
- Short-lived clump / seedlings
- What to buy
- Plug or division for reliable residential establishment; seed for larger restoration areas.
- When to plant
- Apr–May; late Aug–Sep, finishing about six weeks before the first frost.
In the design
Leave some stems and seedheads through winter; divide or thin only when needed.
