Cardinal flower, a 1-6 ft. perennial, has showy red flowers in 8 in., terminal spikes. Each flower has three spreading lower petals and two upper petals, all united into a tube at the base. Erect leafy stems often occur in clusters, with racemes of flowers resembling flaming red spires. The lower portion of the erect stem is lined with lance-shaped leaves. Although relatively common, over harvesting this handsome wildflower has resulted in its scarcity in some areas. Since most insects find it difficult to navigate the long tubular flowers, cardinal flower depends on hummingbirds, which feed on the nectar, for pollination. Its common name alludes to the bright red robes worn by Roman Catholic cardinals. Cardinal flowers have a basal rosette with elliptical leaves, either entire or serrated, that contain milky sap. Serrated, small and large teeth alternate along the leaf edges. Red flowers appear in mid-late summer. Cardinal flower's habitat includes ditches, ravines, depressions, woodland edges, openings, stream banks, roadsides, prairies, plains, meadows, pastures, savannas, lakes or pond edges, swamps, wet or moist soils.
(Photo credits: left by L. Rozas; right by Larry Allain)
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