Pollinator plant

Cardinalflower

Lobelia fulgens

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Common names

5 names · 2 languages
EnglishYour language
  • Cardinal Flower[1][2]
  • Cardinalflower
  • Indian Pink[1]
+1 more nameShow fewer names
Other languages (1)
Dutch
  • Lobelia
Sources & name notes (2)

Names recorded in our plant catalogue and botanical sources, grouped by language. Usage can vary by region.

Catalogue language labels are reviewed separately from botanical source records.

Numbered references identify names recorded by an external source. Other names are from our plant catalogue.

[1] Lobelia cardinalis — Plant Toolbox common names ↗

NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox; English common names in a United States horticultural reference.

Source records
  • Cardinal Flower — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(1); heading: Common Name(s):; Lobelia cardinalis.
  • Indian Pink — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(2); heading: Common Name(s):; Lobelia cardinalis.
  • Lobelia — ul#common_names > li:nth-of-type(3); heading: Common Name(s):; Lobelia cardinalis.
[2] Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20 — Lobelia cardinalis ↗

Common names from World Plants, version 26.05, reproduced in Catalogue of Life 2026-08-20. License: CC BY.

Source records
  • Cardinal Flower — VernacularName.tsv, line 143028; taxon 3VRHJ.
Plant references

Source-backed information

Published observations for this plant. Each reference supports the information beside it.

Taxonomy
Catalogue of Life treats Lobelia fulgens as a synonym of Lobelia cardinalis.

Taxonomic treatment in the August 2026 release; the catalogue record name is preserved.

Sources [1] [2]
Botanical family
Campanulaceae

Family in the cited taxonomic treatment.

Sources [2]
Mature height
1.22–1.52 m

NC State Extension profile, published as Lobelia cardinalis; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [3]
Mature spread
0.3–0.61 m

NC State Extension profile, published as Lobelia cardinalis; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Converted from the source range in feet and inches; mature size varies with growing conditions.

Sources [3]
Plant habit
Erect

NC State Extension profile, published as Lobelia cardinalis; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Life cycle
Perennial

NC State Extension profile, published as Lobelia cardinalis; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Foliage
Deciduous

NC State Extension profile, published as Lobelia cardinalis; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Light
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day); Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day); Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)

NC State Extension profile, published as Lobelia cardinalis; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Moisture and drainage
Moist; Occasionally Wet

NC State Extension profile, published as Lobelia cardinalis; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Soil texture
High Organic Matter

NC State Extension profile, published as Lobelia cardinalis; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life.

Sources [3]
Flowering season
Autumn; Summer

NC State Extension profile, published as Lobelia cardinalis; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Seasons reflect the source region and do not verify the catalogue’s exact flowering months.

Sources [3]
Reported wildlife attraction
Listed as attracting: butterflies, hummingbirds, pollinators.

NC State Extension profile, published as Lobelia cardinalis; accepted-name linkage follows Catalogue of Life. Broad wildlife categories; this does not establish flower visits by a named bee species or quantify nectar and pollen.

Sources [3]
Native range
S. Canada to N. Colombia.

Explicit native locality records in Kew WCVP v16; introduced and doubtful distributions excluded. Continent conversion follows the documented geographic mapping.

Sources [4]
Catalogue ratings

Who this plant supports

Honey bees

Low suitability
Nectar value Low
Pollen value Unknown
Plant profile

About this plant

Cardinalflower (Lobelia fulgens) is a herbaceous plant. It flowers from August to October.

Sources and references

References for the information marked with source numbers on this page.

Sources checked
  1. Catalogue of Life Lobelia fulgens — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: Taxonomy
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 549006; ID 3VRQ5; rank species; status synonym

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  2. Catalogue of Life Lobelia cardinalis — Catalogue of Life COL26.8

    COL26.8 (2026-08-20). Contributing checklist: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World. This is taxonomic evidence, not an independent ecological study.

    Supports: TaxonomyBotanical family
    Relevant sections
    • Taxonomy: NameUsage.tsv line 548821; ID 3VRHJ; rank species; status accepted
    • Botanical family: NameUsage.tsv line 548821; ID 3VRHJ; rank species; status accepted

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 4.0.

  3. NC State Extension Lobelia cardinalis — Plant Toolbox

    NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox. Growing conditions and seasons reflect its United States horticultural context.

    Supports: Mature heightMature spreadPlant habitLife cycleFoliageLightMoisture and drainageSoil textureFlowering seasonReported wildlife attraction
    Relevant sections
    • Mature height: Dimensions / Height
    • Mature spread: Dimensions / Width
    • Plant habit: Habit/Form
    • Life cycle: Life Cycle
    • Foliage: Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics
    • Light: Light
    • Moisture and drainage: Soil Drainage
    • Soil texture: Soil Texture
    • Flowering season: Flower Bloom Time
    • Reported wildlife attraction: Attracts

    Source checked on .

  4. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Lobelia cardinalis — Kew WCVP native distribution

    Native distribution and taxonomic treatment from the official WCVP v16 export (4 June 2026). The link opens the corresponding POWO taxon. Source rows are retained in the native-range audit archive.

    Supports: Native range
    Relevant sections
    • Native range: WCVP v16; wcvp_names.csv lines 1196749, 1196783; wcvp_distribution.csv native locality lines 476391, 476392, 476393, 476394, 476395, 476396, 476397, 476398, 476399, 476400, 476401, 476402, 476403, 476404, 476405, 476406, 476407, 476408, 476409, 476410, 476411, 476412, 476413, 476414, 476415, 476416, 476417, 476418, 476419, 476420, 476421, 476422, 476423, 476424, 476425, 476426, 476427, 476428, 476429, 476430, 476431, 476432, 476433, 476434, 476435, 476436, 476437, 476438, 476439, 476440, 476441, 476442, 476443, 476444, 476445, 476446, 476447, 476448, 476450

    Source checked on .

    Source data licence: CC BY 3.0.