Texas
Wildbuds

Lobelia cardinalis

(Cardinalflower)

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Lobelia cardinalis, St. Edwards Park, Austin, Travis Co. 3665

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Lobelia cardinalis, St. Edwards Park, Austin, Travis Co. 3667

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Lobelia cardinalis, St. Edwards Park, Austin, Travis Co. 3669

Scientific Name Lobelia cardinalis USDA PLANTS Symbol LOCA2
Common Name Cardinalflower ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 34505
Family Campanulaceae (Bellflower) SEINet
Reference
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Description Habitat: Wet soils along streams, ponds and shaded shallow water.
Plant: Erect perennial 1 to 4 feet tall, unbranched, often hairless stem.
Leaves: Numerous stem leaves, alternate, nearly stalkless, ovate to oblanceolate, 3 to 5 inches long; margins finely to somewhat coarsely-toothed.
Inflorescence: Terminal racemes up to 18 inches long with bright scarlet flowers on pedicels 1/4 to 5/8-inch long, each pedicel with a leaflike bract at the base; 5 linear sepals less than 3/8-inch long; corolla fused into a 3/4-inch long at the base and 2-lipped at the top, with 2 lobes on the upper lip and 3 lobes on the lower.
Bloom Period: July to October.
References: "Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country" by Marshall Enquist and SEINet
BONAP Distribution Map

Map Color Key
Texas Status:
Native

Banner photo of Lupinus ssp. by Rick Capozza, Austin TX

© Tom Lebsack 2023