Lobelia cardinalis is a short-lived native perennial with striking scarlet flower spikes that appear in late summer, drawing hummingbirds and other pollinators. The tubular blooms rise above wetlands and streambanks, creating vivid displays of red against green foliage. In the wild, it grows naturally along creeks, ponds, and moist meadows throughout eastern and central North America from southeastern Canada down through Florida and west to Texas.

Growing Conditions
Cardinal flower prefers full sun to part shade and consistently moist to wet soil rich in organic matter. It tolerates shallow standing water, making it ideal for rain gardens, pond edges, or other low areas that stay damp. In drier gardens, it requires regular watering to mimic its natural habitat. The plant forms basal rosettes the first year and sends up tall flowering stalks in subsequent seasons. Because it is a short-lived perennial, allow it to reseed naturally or divide and replant young rosettes to maintain healthy populations. Remove spent stalks after bloom to encourage new basal growth.

Zones
Hardy in USDA Zones 3 to 9.

Cultivation from Seed
The seeds are tiny and need light to germinate. Sow them on the surface of moist soil without covering them and keep the medium consistently damp. Cold stratification, a moist chilling period of several weeks, improves germination rates. Transplant seedlings after frost danger has passed, spacing them 12 to 18 inches apart in a sunny or partly shaded moist site.

Ecological Role
Lobelia cardinalis provides essential nectar for hummingbirds and native pollinators. Its presence in a garden supports wetland biodiversity and pairs beautifully with other moisture-loving natives such as Chelone glabra and Iris versicolor.