Lobelia cardinalis (Cardinal Flower)

grows 2-5 ft. tall

sun to part sun

medium to wet soil

red flowers from Aug.-Sept.

like most red, trumpet-shaped flowers, this attracts and benefits hummingbirds

excellent in rain gardens, along water’s edge, wet meadows, ditches, and near downspouts

reseeds itself each year; after it flowers, disturb the surrounding soil so that the seeds can sow themselves for next year

use along stream banks

excellent companion to great blue lobelia, boneset, and Joe-pye weed (pictured)

natural habitat: floodplain forests, alluvial swamps, seepage swamps, wet meadows, ditches, and low roadsides; frequent throughout Virginia