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Cardinal Flower, Scarlet Lobelia - Lobelia cardinalis


Family: Campanulaceae - Bellflower family Genus Common Name: Lobelia Native Status: NativeDicot Perennial Herb Leaves:Alternate Leaves:Simple
Lobelia cardinalis - Cardinal Flower, Scarlet Lobelia. This is the showiest of our North American Lobelia species with the bright red blossoms (although it may rarely be white), and is also the most widely distributed. I originally thought the "Cardinal" name came from the bird, but according to Wildflowers of Tennessee, the Ohio Valley and the Southern Appalachians, the name comes from the robes which Catholic Cardinals wear, which are this same color of crimson.

Lobelia cardinalis is entirely pollinated by hummingbirds, but bees gather nectar thru the slits in the sides of the corolla tube.

Found in:
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, WV, GS

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Lobelia cardinalis

Distribution of Lobelia cardinalis in the United States and Canada:
Map unavailable.
Map courtesy of The Biota of North America Program.
Map color key

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Site: Walker County, GA Date: 2009-September-26Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Nikon D60
Tamron SP 90MM f/2.8 AF Macro
90mm (135 equiv)
The Cardinal Flower inflorescence is a spike of crimson flowers up to about 8 inches long, terminating the stem.
Lobelia cardinalis

Site: Big Frog Mountain, Polk County, TN Date: 2004-August-13Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Cardinal Flower blossom has the 5-lobed corolla typical of lobelias, with 2 lobes on the upper lip, and 3 on the lower, although the separation of the lobes are extreme in Lobelia cardinalis. The stamen are united into a single crimson tube, carried high above the rest of the flower. Cardinal Flower near Rough Creek on Big Frog Mountain.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Lobelia cardinalis

Site: Big Frog Mountain, Polk County, TN Date: 2004-August-13Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Minolta Dimage Z2
Cardinal Flower near Rough Creek.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Lobelia cardinalis

Site: Big Frog Mountain, Polk County, TN Date: 2004-August-13Photographer: Gerald C Williamson
Minolta Dimage Z2
Lobelia cardinalis is one of the taller species in the genus, growing to 6' tall. The leaves, as with all Lobelia species, are alternate.
Click on the photo for a larger image
Lobelia cardinalis

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Lobelia cardinalis initially published on USWildflowers.com 2008-12-31; Updated 2018-12-08

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All content except USDA Plants Database map Copyright Gerald C. Williamson 2024
Photographs Copyright owned by the named photographer



Code Update 20230302