September’s Native Maryland Plant
Lobelia cardinalis L.
(low-BEE-lee-ah kar-dih-NAL-iss) L.
Common Name: Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis is one of the most stunning native wildflowers in Maryland, which is why it is commonly used in rain gardens. It likes moist, boggy conditions, and its tall, erect racemes, covered in bright scarlet flowers that bloom from top to bottom over a period of weeks, make it attractive in any garden. It grows in sun but also in significant shade, as is the case in my yard where it readily self-seeds. Take a closer look at its irregular tubular flowers and you’ll see the characteristic ‘lip’ petals. The upper lip splits into two lobes while the lower lip is deeply cleft into three.
Cardinal Flower is a short-lived perennial, but it will self-sow and it’s easy to grow from seed. If you’re gathering its dried seeds to sow in fall (or spring), you can scatter them directly on exposed soil; they don’t need cold stratification¹, just keep them moist until colder weather and don’t bury or mulch the seeds since they need sunlight to germinate. This plant blooms through October, allowing many late-season pollinators to enjoy its sweet nectar.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds are the most frequent visitors to Lobelia cardinalis in my garden. These birds will return each year to raise families in my yard. Center Photo: A hummingbird’s head brushes against the stigma of Lobelia cardinalis – pollen is transferred here, and fertilization begins.
There are over 330 species of hummingbirds in North and South America but only the Ruby-throated is a visitor to the mid-Atlantic states – they are also the main pollinator of this plant. They generally arrive in early April and stay well into October before migrating back south. By planting Lobelia cardinalis, you’re all but guaranteed to see them in your garden – and you’ll be charmed by their flying prowess. Trivia: a gathering of hummingbirds is referred to as a charm or bouquet.
Above: A Lobelia cardinalis getting ready to bloom along the edges of a rain garden B A single spike-like raceme with numerous tubular flowers in different stages of bloom. C The style passes through the stamen tube and terminates in a 2-lobed stigma. D A single fruit houses hundreds of tiny translucent seeds. E A basal rosette will form a new plant.
Although the hummingbird will migrate in the fall, and the cardinal flower will die back, the common Red Cardinal, a native year-round songbird, will keep the red color in your winter landscape. You can encourage it by planting berry-bearing plants. Interestingly, its botanical name is Cardinalis cardinalis.
¹ The process of subjecting seeds to both cold and moist conditions for them to germinate
Alison Milligan – Mstr. Gardener/Mstr. Naturalist/Mstr. Watershed Steward
Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP), AA County Tree Trooper