Native red flowers are somewhat hard to come by, but cardinal flower is one of the best. Use it in sunny rain gardens or moderate-shade flower beds.
Cardinal flower will grow best in soil rich with organic material and may need to be watered during dry periods. It is often a short-lived perennial, so be aware that you may need to replace it occasionally. Hummingbirds and yellow butterflies find cardinal flower irresistable.
Uses: rain gardens, hummingbirds, butterflies
Bloom time: August - September
Height: 2 to 4.5 feet
Space: 12 - 18 inches
Sun: Full sun to medium shade
Moisture: Average to moist
Seed: Seed: Germinates fairly easily. The tiny seeds need light to germinate, so sow them on moist soil and don't bury them at all.
- 200 seeds per packet
- 700,000 seeds per ounce
- 1 ounce per 10,000 to 20,000 square feet