Lobelia cardinalis L.

Cardinal Flower

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

Cardinal Flower is a native short-lived herbaceous perennial in the Bellflower family (Campanulaceae). It can be found throughout Alabama. Cardinal Flower grows in swamps, along streams and rivers, around ponds and lakes, and in wet roadside ditches. It is a perennial from a top root. Stems are from 1-5 feet in height. The stems are green in color, pubescent or glabrous, and rarely branched. Leaves are alternate, petiolate, elliptic to lanceolate in outline, with toothed margins. The flowers are produced in a terminal raceme. The individual flowers have a short stalk and a 5-lobed calyx. The corolla is 2-lipped, with the three lobes of the lower lip appearing more prominent than the two lobes of the upper lip. Flowers are typically bright red in color, but white and pink color forms are known. The fruit is a capsule with many small seed. Cardinal Flower is an extremely popular native species and is often available from nurseries. Plants can also be grown from seed, cuttings, or division of basal off-shoots. Cardinal Flower prefers an organic rich soil that is consistently moist or wet. Plants can be grown in full sun or in shade. The flowers are attractive to a number of butterflies and the Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris).--A. Diamond

**

Native FACW+ (NWPL)

**