I want to add more native plants to my flowerbeds this year, and Cardinal flowers are on the list.
Cardinal Flowers (Lobelia cardinalis) attract hummingbirds. It’s more challenging to find perennials that do well in partial-shade, but this one thrives. It grows tall and sturdy and doesn’t need to be staked.
The only hitch is that the plants prefer moist, rich soil, so they may struggle in drought conditions if you don’t keep them well-watered. We’ve had plenty of dry and drought conditions over the last several years.
The plants are otherwise extremely easy to grow, and have very few pest or disease problems. They are hardy in Zones 3-9.
Last summer we had 7 weeks of heavy rain, so my plants were very happy. In the wild, they thrive in wetlands and near streams and ponds.
Almost every evening last summer I would see hummingbirds visiting the plants in my backyard.
Southern Wisconsin only hosts one species of hummingbird—the Ruby-throated Hummingbird. Only the males have the ruby throat. This is a female that I spotted resting in our cotoneaster bushes:
Hummingbirds will sip nectar from many flowers, but red is the color that attracts them the most. This hummingbird is about to feed from an annual salvia plant:
Cardinal flowers grow 2 to 4 feet tall in full sun or partial-shade. The plants are sold at most garden centers that sell perennials. You can also find them for sale online.
Cardinal flowers were named for the red robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals.
There aren’t many red-flowering perennials to choose from. This one definitely stands out in a garden!