# Cardinal Flower (*Lobelia cardinalis*) Cardinal Flower has bright red flowers that look like little trumpets! They are very attractive to hummingbirds. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Rare - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 59 - **Habitat:** Wetlands and along streams - **Also known as:** Cardinal Flowering Plant, Red Lobelia ![Cardinal Flower](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771426687/objects/4964.jpg) ## Appearance The Cardinal Flower has brilliant, fiery red, tubular flowers arranged on tall, erect spikes. Its vivid color makes it instantly recognizable, standing out sharply against the green foliage of its wetland habitats. Each bloom has two lips, one with two lobes and one with three, designed perfectly for its primary pollinators. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Asterales - **Family:** Campanulaceae - **Genus:** Lobelia ## Interesting facts - Hummingbirds can see red colors that are invisible to most insects, making this flower a perfect beacon for them. - Indigenous peoples historically used Cardinal Flower in traditional medicine, but only by skilled practitioners. - Its stunning red color is so intense, it was named after the robes of Catholic Cardinals! - Unlike many plants, it prefers 'wet feet,' growing happily with its roots submerged in water. ## Special abilities - **Hummingbird Magnet:** Cardinal Flower has bright red, tube-shaped flowers and nectar, perfectly shaped to attract and feed hummingbirds for pollination. - **Wetland Wanderer:** Cardinal Flower can thrive in very wet soils, even in shallow standing water, allowing it to grow where other plants struggle. - **Natural Protector:** Cardinal Flower produces special compounds that make it taste bad or be toxic, protecting it from many hungry animals. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 60-180 cm - **Spread:** 30-60 cm - **Flower Size:** 2-4 cm - **Bloom Season:** Late summer to early fall - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** Moderate - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Bird ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** [Ruby-throated Hummingbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/ruby-throated-hummingbird) (*Archilochus colubris*) — Its long beak reaches deep into the flower for nectar. - **Eats:** Parthenice Tiger Moth (*Grammia parthenice*) — Its larvae can feed on the leaves despite the plant's toxicity. - **Eats:** Virginia Tiger Moth (*Spilosoma virginica*) — Its woolly bear caterpillars may also browse the foliage. ## Traits - [Deciduous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/deciduous): Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Summer Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/summer-blooming): Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished. - [Tube Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tube-flower): A tube flower has petals fused together at the base, forming a distinct tubular structure that typically holds nectar deep within. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. ## Collections - [Flowers](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/flowers) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Explore with care and ask an adult if you’re unsure what to do. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Cardinal Flower? Count the petals where you can, then compare the flower's center, its symmetry, how the blooms are grouped and the leaves below. Color varies between garden varieties and shifts with the light. Flower Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Cardinal Flower? 60-180 cm ### How wide does Cardinal Flower spread? 30-60 cm ### How big are the flowers on Cardinal Flower? 2-4 cm ### When does Cardinal Flower bloom? Late summer to early fall ### Is Cardinal Flower edible? No ### Is Cardinal Flower toxic? Moderate ### What is Cardinal Flower's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Abbott Farm Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/abbott-farm-historic-district) — New Jersey, US · Historic District - [Ames Nowell State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/ames-nowell-state-park) — Massachusetts, US · State Park - [Black Creek Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/black-creek-park) — New York, US · Park - [Fort Payne Boom Town Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/fort-payne-boom-town-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Grundy Lake Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/grundy-lake-provincial-park) — Ontario, CA · State Park - [Locust Grove State Historic Site](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/locust-grove-state-historic-site) — Louisiana, US · Nature Reserve [View all places to see Cardinal Flower](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/cardinal-flower) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Cardinal Flower: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cardinal-flower)