Carried by 11 nurseries
View Availability at NurseryData provided by the participants of the Consortium of California Herbaria
View additional distribution information on the Jepson eflora
Cardinal Flower is an evergreen species native to the Americas, from southeastern Canada through the eastern and southwestern United States, Mexico and Central America to northern Colombia. It tends to grow in very wet areas like stream bottoms, bogs and seeps. It grows to about a meter tall (when in flower) and has bright red flowers. Hummingbirds love it. Cardinal flower is often cultivated for ornamental purposes and has also been used for medicinal purposes.
The plant is very alkaloid and is considered toxic.
Perennial herb
3 - 6 ft Tall
2 - 5 ft Wide
Upright, Spreading, Upright Columnar
Fast, Moderate
Evergreen
Red
Summer
Water features or wet habitats, Deer resistant
Deep Shade, Partial Shade, Full Sun
Moderate, High
Keep moist
Moderate
Tolerates cold to freezing° F
Slow, Standing
Moist, rich soils.
Soil PH: 4.0 - 8.0
good for cut flowers
Mainly pollinated by ruby-throated hummingbirds. Proposed by seed and small volunteers around the main plant. Tolerates potting.. For propagating by seed: No treatment.
Stream bottoms, riparian, bogs, seeps
Bogs, Chaparral, Coastal Sage Scrub, Freshwater Marsh, Riparian Woodland, Wetland-Riparian
Butterflies and moths supported
0 confirmed and 1 likely
Spotted Cut-Worm
Xestia c-nigrum