In the landscape
Naturalized · Riparian · Woodland · Butterfly · Native · Pollinator · Rain · Water
Data sources
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis · Perennial
Cardinal Flower is a perennial, hardy in USDA zones 3-9, that matures to about 2–4 ft × 1–2 ft. It does best in full sun and part shade with high water needs in moist and occasionally-wet soil. Expect pink, red and white blooms in summer and fall. It attracts butterflies, hummingbirds and pollinators and stands up well to wet soil.
- USDA zones
- 3-9
- Sun
- Full sun, Part shade
- Water
- High
- Mature size
- 2–4 ft × 1–2 ft
- Maintenance
- Low
- Soil
- Moist, Occasionally-wet
- Bloom color
- Pink, Red, White
- Bloom season
- Summer, Fall
- Attracts
- Butterflies, Hummingbirds, Pollinators
- Tough against
- Wet soil
- Toxic to
- People
- Native to
- Americas
Will it survive your winters?
We score Cardinal Flower’s freeze-trouble range against the real coldest nights your area has recorded.
Powered by ~35 years of daily lows from the nearest NOAA weather station. A risk read, not a guarantee — a sheltered spot or mature plant beats the odds.
More plants for your zone: Zone 3 · Zone 4 · Zone 5 · Zone 6 · Zone 7 · Zone 8 · Zone 9
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