Cardinal Flower

The cardinal flower is an herbaceous perennial that puts on a show! This native plant with bold scarlet red flowers makes a statement and complements any garden. It is gorgeous when mixed with heuchera, ferns, and swamp milkweed.

Family: Bellflower (Campanulaceae)

Light Requirement: Full

Water Needs: Moist

Height: 3-4 ft.

Spread: 1-2 ft.

Bloom Time: Summer

Flower Color: Red

Wildlife Value: Attracts bees, butterflies

Cardinal Flower: Landscape Uses and Maintenance 

The cardinal flower grows near shaded streams naturally, so this plant will enjoy growing in wetter places in your garden. Keep it consistently moist and do not allow to dry out.

As it prefers the shade to sunny areas, brighten any dark corner with its stunning scarlet blooms that will impact your garden. As an upright and stately perennial, this flower is a delight to the eye and will be a stunner in your garden for years to come.

Not a one-hit wonder -- this plant is truly versatile! Put it in your border, pollinator garden, rock garden, or meadow.

It is a low maintenance plant that will not need much direct care. Water deeply when first planting. Water during droughts.

If you want to give your new plants an extra treat, you can top dress the soil around them with compost or leaf mold to improve soil structure or add organic matter. Make sure to give this plant some space around each clump, especially around their leaves, to prevent fungal issues. Treat with an organic fungicide should issues arise.

Cardinal Flower Noteworthy Characteristics

The cardinal flower is a magnet for many hungry pollinators, including hummingbirds, bees, and butterflies that enjoy the nectar from its flowers. Deer and rabbits will avoid this plant.

Have you been looking for an easy to propagate plant? This is the one! It will readily self-seed and spread slowly in your garden, without being invasive. You can leave spent, fertilized blooms to turn into seedpods that will allow seed to fall when mature. If you do not want this plant to spread, simply deadhead the spent blooms.

This Is How Your Plants Will Look upon Delivery

Bloom Season

Summer

Bloom/Foliage Color

Red

Height at Maturity

Over 12"

Care

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) thrives in moist, well-drained soil with consistent moisture. Keep the soil consistently wet and mulched to retain moisture. Fertilize lightly in early spring. Remove spent flowers to promote more flowers and prevent self-seeding.

Plant Reproduction

Cardinal flowers are spread by self-seeding, sending out offshoots, and bending stems.

How to Grow and Care for Bare Root Perennials, Tubers, and Bulbs

Bare root perennials, tubers, and bulbs are an easy and economical way to jumpstart your garden with lasting beauty. These dormant plants should be planted in early spring or fall while the soil is cool and workable. Before planting, soak bare roots in water for 1–2 hours to rehydrate them. Choose a location based on the plant’s light needs—most flowering types prefer full sun, while others thrive in partial shade.

For bare root perennials, dig a shallow hole and spread the roots out naturally, ensuring the crown is level with the soil surface. For tubers and bulbs, plant with the pointed side facing up at a depth about two to three times their height. Cover with soil, gently press down, and water thoroughly.

Keep soil consistently moist (not soggy) until new growth appears. Add mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds, but avoid covering the crown or bulb tops. Once established, these plants require little maintenance—just seasonal watering, occasional dividing, and deadheading or pruning as needed. With proper care, they’ll return and thrive year after year.

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