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Taxon  Report  
Lobelia cardinalis  L.
Cardinalflower
Lobelia cardinalis is a perennial herb that is native to California, and also found elsewhere in North America and beyond.
Siskiyou Del Norte Modoc Humboldt Shasta Lassen Trinity Plumas Tehama Butte Mendocino Glenn Sierra Yuba Lake Nevada Colusa Placer Sutter El Dorado Yolo Alpine Napa Sonoma Sacramento Mono Amador Solano Calaveras Tuolumne San Joaquin Marin Contra Costa Alameda Santa Cruz Mariposa Madera San Francisco San Mateo Merced Fresno Stanislaus Santa Clara Inyo San Benito Tulare Kings Monterey San Bernardino San Luis Obispo Kern Santa Barbara Ventura Los Angeles Riverside Orange San Diego Imperial
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Bloom Period
Subspecies and Varieties:
Genus: Lobelia
Family: Campanulaceae  
Category: angiosperm  
PLANTS group:Dicot
Jepson eFlora section: eudicot

Toxicity: Possible skin irritation from touching any part of this plant.

Wetlands:
Arid West: Occurs in wetlands
Mountains, Valleys and Coast: Occurs usually in wetlands, occasionally in non wetlands

Communities: Coastal Sage Scrub, Chaparral, wetland-riparian

Name Status:
Accepted by PLANTS + POWO
Alternate Names:
PLANTSLobelia cardinalis ssp. graminea
PLANTSLobelia cardinalis var. graminea
PLANTSLobelia cardinalis var. meridionalis
PLANTSLobelia cardinalis var. multiflora
PLANTSLobelia cardinalis var. phyllostachya
More …
Information about  Lobelia cardinalis from other sources
Nursery availability from CNPLX
This plant is available commercially.
USDA PLANTS Profile (LOCA2)

Photos on Calflora

Photos on CalPhotos

Google Images

Photos on iNaturalist

ID Tips on PlantID.net

[Wikipedia] Etymology: Lobelia cardinalis was first introduced to Europe in the mid-1620s; the name 'cardinal flower' was in-use by 1629, likely due to the similarity of the flower's color to the vesture of Roman Catholic Cardinals. (link added by Mary Ann Machi)


Suggested Citation
Calflora: Information on California plants for education, research and conservation, with data contributed by public and private institutions and individuals. [web application]. 2025. The Calflora Database [a non-profit organization]. Available: https://www.calflora.org/   (Accessed: 07/18/2025).