100 Cardinal Flower Seeds Lobelia cardinalis Native Red Wildflower Pollinator Garden

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is a North American native wildflower prized for its brilliant scarlet blooms that rise on tall, upright spikes from midsummer into early fall. This moisture-loving perennial brings vivid vertical color to borders, bog areas, and rain gardens, and its nectar-rich flowers are a welcomed sight for hummingbirds and other pollinating wildlife throughout the season.

Use cardinal flower in native plantings, pollinator gardens, rain gardens, and along pond or stream edges where soil stays consistently moist. Plants form tidy basal rosettes and send up flower spikes that pair beautifully with ferns, sedges, and other moisture-loving perennials. Allow spent blooms to remain if you wish to encourage self-seeding in favorable sites, or divide clumps every few years to keep plantings vigorous.
Species: Lobelia cardinalis
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Plant_Habit: Upright clumping
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Soil: Moist to wet, rich, well-draining
Zones: 3-9
Germination: 14-30 days with light; surface sow and press in, do not bury
Sowing: Start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost or direct sow after frost
Spacing: 12-18 inches
Notes: Keep soil consistently moist; mulch to retain moisture