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Lobelia cardinalis
Lobelia cardinalis L.
Cardinal Flower
Campanulaceae (Bellflower Family)
Synonym(s): Lobelia cardinalis ssp. graminea, Lobelia cardinalis var. graminea, Lobelia cardinalis var. meridionalis, Lobelia cardinalis var. multiflora, Lobelia cardinalis var. phyllostachya, Lobelia cardinalis var. propinqua, Lobelia cardinalis var. pseudosplendens, Lobelia fulgens, Lobelia splendens
USDA Symbol: loca2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), CAN (N)
This 1-6 ft. perennial has showy, red flowers in 8 in., terminal spikes. Each flower has three spreading lower petals and two upper petals, all united into a tube at the base. Erect leafy stems, often in clusters, with racemes of flowers resembling flaming red spires. The lower portion of the erect stem is lined with lance-shaped leaves.
Although relatively common, overpicking this handsome wildflower has resulted in its scarcity in some areas. Since most insects find it difficult to navigate the long tubular flowers, Cardinal Flower depends on hummingbirds, which feed on the nectar, for pollination. Its common name alludes to the bright red robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals. In southern Arizona, Sierra Madre Lobelia (L. laxiflora) is also found; its corolla is red with yellow lobes or all yellow.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Herb
Inflorescence: Raceme
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.
Leaf: Dark Green
Autumn Foliage: yes
Flower: In terminal racemes. Resupinate. Zygomorphic. Sepals 5. Petals 5 fused. Stamens 5 fused by their lower parts. Carpels 5 fused inferior.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: RedBloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Distribution
USA: AL , AR , AZ , CA , CO , CT , DC , DE , FL , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , LA , MA , MD , ME , MI , MN , MO , MS , NC , NE , NH , NJ , NM , NV , NY , OH , OK , PA , RI , SC , TN , TX , UT , VA , VT , WI , WVCanada: MB , NB , ON , QC , SK
Native Distribution: S. N.B. to Ont. & s.e. MN, s. to FL, TX & s. CA; south through Mexico and Central America to northern South America
Native Habitat: Ditches, Ravines, Depressions, Woodlands' edge, Opening, Stream banks, Roadsides, Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannas, Near lakes or ponds, Swamps
Growing Conditions
Water Use: Medium , HighLight Requirement: Sun , Part Shade , Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet
CaCO3 Tolerance: Medium
Drought Tolerance: Low
Cold Tolerant: yes
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Moist to wet, humus-rich soil. Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Limestone-based, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Clay
Conditions Comments: Cardinal flower has very showy red blooms. It is particularly attractive at the edge of a woodland garden. The soil must be kept moist or wet at all times. A winter mulching in northern climes is beneficial. It can be propagated by bending a stem down into the mud and fastening it with a rock or sticks.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Aromatic, Color, Showy, Garden, Perennial gardenUse Wildlife: In bloom, cardinal flower attracts hummingbirds. Nectar-Hummingbirds
Use Medicinal: Amerindians used root tea for stomach aches, syphilis, typhoid, worms. Leaf tea used for colds, croup, nosebleeds, fevers, headaches, rheumatism. Poisonous. (Foster & Duke) Roots, finely ground, placed in food said to be an aphrodisiac. (Weiner)
Use Other: Used mainly in love potions. Finely chopped roots places in food as love charm.
Warning: POISONOUS PARTS: All parts. Toxic only if eaten in large quantities. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, exhaustion and weakness, dilation of pupils, convulsions, and coma. Toxic Principle: Alkaloids lobelamine, lobeline, and others, plus a volatile oil. (Poisonous Plants of N.C.)
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Attracts: Birds , Butterflies , Hummingbirds
Nectar Source: yes
Deer Resistant: Moderate
Propagation
Propagation Material: SeedsSeed Collection: As seeds approach maturity, the capsule opens slightly at its top. Check capsules at both upper and lower portions of the stalk. Store dried, cleaned seed in a sealed, refrigerated container up to three years.
Seed Treatment: This species requires or benefits from a three month period of cold-moist stratification in the refrigerator.
Commercially Avail: yes
Find Seed or Plants
Order seed of this species from Native American Seed and help support the Wildflower Center.
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
View propagation protocol from Native Plants Network.
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May 16, 2006
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National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FACW | OBL | FACW | FACW | OBL | OBL | FACW |
From the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Pineywoods Native Plant Center - Nacogdoches, TX
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden - Santa Barbara, CA
Delaware Nature Society - Hockessin, DE
Crosby Arboretum - Picayune, MS
Nueces River Authority - Uvalde, TX
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - Austin, TX
Native Seed Network - Corvallis, OR
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX
Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE
Wildflower Center Seed Bank
LBJWC-618 Collected 2007-10-21 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower CenterBibliography
Bibref 928 - 100 easy-to-grow native plants for Canadian gardens (2005) Johnson, L.; A. LeyerleBibref 1207 - Earth Medicine, Earth Food (1990) Michael A. Weiner
Bibref 417 - Field Guide to Medicinal Plants and Herbs of Eastern and Central North America (2000) Foster, S. & J. A. Duke
Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski
Bibref 946 - Gardening with Prairie Plants: How to Create Beautiful Native Landscapes (2002) Wasowski, Sally
Bibref 765 - McMillen's Texas Gardening: Wildflowers (1998) Howard, D.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender
Bibref 1294 - The Midwestern Native Garden: Native Alternatives to Nonnative Flowers and Plants An Illustrated Guide (2011) Adelman, Charlotte and Schwartz, Bernard L.
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.
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Web Reference
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona ChapterResearch Literature
Reslit 222 - Plasticity of physiology in Lobelia: Testing for adaptation and constraint (2006) C. M. Caruso, H. Maherali and M. SherrardReslit 221 - Genetic variance and covariance for physiological traits in Lobelia: Are there constraints on adaptive evolution? (2005) C. M. Caruso, H. Maherali, A. Mikulyuk, K. Carlson...
Reslit 685 - From horticultural plantings into wild populations: movement of pollen and genes in Lobelia cardinalis (2008) L. M. K. Johnson and L. F. Galloway
Reslit 688 - Natural Selection on Floral Traits in Two Species of Lobelia with Different Pollinators (1991) M. O. Johnston
Reslit 690 - Effects of Cross and Self-Fertilization on Progeny Fitness in Lobelia cardinalis and L. siphilitica (1992) M. O. Johnston
Reslit 1087 - Phenotypic plasticity of growth trajectories in two species of Lobelia in response to nutrient availability (1997) M. Pigliucci, P. Diiorio and C. D. Schlichting
Reslit 1346 - Growth, gas exchange, and chlorophyll fluorescence of four ornamental herbaceous perennials during water deficit conditions (2006) T. Starman and L. Lombardini
Reslit 1387 - Phenetic analysis of morphological variation in the Lobelia cardinalis complex (Campanulaceae: Lobelioideae) (1997) S. W. Thompson and T. G. Lammers
Reslit 2200 - Tests of Two Hypotheses Concerning Pollen Competition in a Self-Compatible, Long-Styled Species (Lobelia cardinalis: Lobeliaceae) (1993) M. O. Johnston
Reslit 2205 - Pollen and ovule sources affect seed production of Lobelia cardinalis (Lobeliaceae) (1992) C. D. Schlichting and B. Devlin
This information was provided by the Florida WIldflower Foundation.
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From the Archive
Wildflower Newsletter 1993 VOL. 10, NO.2 - Berry Browsing in the Backyard, Director\'s Report, Essays on Trillium\'s, Natio...Wildflower Newsletter 1996 VOL. 13, NO.3 - Hummingbird Gardening, Blooms Beget Butterflies, Butterflies and Hummingbirds Fo...
Additional resources
USDA: Find Lobelia cardinalis in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Lobelia cardinalis in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Lobelia cardinalis
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-02-16Research By: AMS