Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal flower)

Lobelia cardinalis L.

Lobelia cardinalis L. ssp. graminea (Lam.) McVaugh

Lobelia cardinalis L. var. graminea (Lam.) McVaugh

Lobelia cardinalis L. var. multiflora (Paxton) McVaugh

Lobelia cardinalis L. var. meridionalis Bowden

Lobelia cardinalis L. var. pseudosplendens McVaugh

Lobelia cardinalis L. var. phyllostachya (Engelm.) McVaugh

Lobelia cardinalis L. var. propinqua (Paxton) Bowden

Lobelia fulgens Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.

Lobelia splendens Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.

Cardinal flower

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Magnoliopsida	Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves
Subclass	Asteridae	A large class that encompasses asters
Order	Asterales	Flowering plants with a central disk flower and surrounding petals, like daisies
Family	Campanulaceae	Campanula or bellflower family; means “bell-shaped flowers”
Genus	Lobelia	Named for Flemish botanist Matthias de l’Obel, also known as Lobelius
Species	cardinalis	“Cardinal,” for the color of a Cardinal’s apparel

About plant names...

The cardinal flower, said to be named for the flower color’s resemblance to robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals, is native to much of North America and Central America. It is pollinated by hummingbirds.

Identification: Cardinal flowers reach 4' (1.2 m) (rarely 6' (1.8 m) in height. They inhabit wetlands, stream banks, and swamps. Leaves reach 8" (20 cm) in length and a width of 1¾" (5 cm), and are lance-shaped. Flowers are usually deep, vibrant red (occasionally pink or white), up to 1½" (4 cm) across, with five lobes. They grow in groups about 8" (20 cm) in size.

Each flower consists of 3 lower petals or lobes, each about the same size, and two upper, narrow, side-reaching petals. The reproductive organs are on a stalk in the center. Photo source unknown.

Online References:

Lobelia cardinalis on Missouriplants.com

Lobelia cardinalis at Illinois Wildflowers

Lobelia cardinalis at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Lobelia cardinalis on Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Lobelia cardinalis on floridata.com

Lobelia cardinalis at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Lobelia cardinalis on CalPhotos

Lobelia cardinalis on SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network

9/21/2012 · By Jacquelyn Boyt

8/29/2010 · Joy and Jim’s, Mansfield, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 19 cm)

8/27/2015 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 7 × 10" (16 × 25 cm)

8/26/2018 · Henry E. Cowdrey Nature Center, Lunenburg, Massachusetts
≈ 4 × 5" (10 × 13 cm)

9/29/2016 · Henry E. Cowdrey Nature Center, Lunenberg, Massachusetts

8/26/2018 · Henry E. Cowdrey Nature Center, Lunenburg, Massachusetts
≈ 4 × 4" (10 × 11 cm)

8/14/2017 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Old Long Loop, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 20 cm)

9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 3½" (13 × 9.2 cm)

9/27/2012 · By Jacquelyn Boyt

8/13/2012 · Squannacook River Wildlife Management Area, Groton, Shirley, & Townsend, Massachusetts
≈ 5 × 4½" (13 × 11 cm)

Lobelia cardinalis description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts
≈ 8 × 12" (20 × 31 cm)

9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts
≈ 4½ × 6" (12 × 15 cm)

8/2/2010 · Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 8 × 12" (20 × 30 cm)

8/29/2010 · Joy and Jim’s, Mansfield, Massachusetts
≈ 4½ × 7" (11 × 17 cm)

9/20/2009 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 8 × 12" (20 × 31 cm)

9/14/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts
≈ 7 × 11" (18 × 27 cm)

8/27/2015 · Beaver Brook Conservation Area, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 5 × 8" (13 × 20 cm)

9/20/2009 · Wild Gardens of Acadia, Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine
≈ 9 × 14" (23 × 35 cm)

7/31/2012 · Bemis Rd Conservation Area, Pepperell, Massachusetts
≈ 9 × 14" (23 × 35 cm)

8/29/2010 · Joy and Jim’s, Mansfield, Massachusetts
≈ 4½ × 7" (11 × 17 cm)

8/2/2010 · Beaver Brook Association Conservation Lands, Rte. 130, Hollis, New Hampshire
≈ 12 × 13" (29 × 32 cm)

8/26/2018 · Henry E. Cowdrey Nature Center, Lunenburg, Massachusetts
≈ 4 × 6" (9.9 × 14 cm)

Range: Zones 3-9:

About this map...