Cardinal Flower Fireworks
August 20, 2009
by Pandra Williams
Lobelia cardinalis, th
e cardinal flower, has a range that covers better than half the North American continent. This plant grows to between 3 – 6 feet in height, and flourishes in full sun to open shade. Right now these beauties are putting on a fireworks display in the EcoAddendum nursery with their striking racemes of brilliant red flowers.
As most insects find the tubular flowers too long to access the nectar, the major pollinator of the cardinal flower is the hummingbird. Cecilia Marrero, our nursery manager, captured a photo of this cloudless yellow sulphur butterfly (Phoebis sennae) sipping nectar from the brilliant red blooms. The butterfly is not likely doing much pollinating, as it is not brushing against the stamens and pistils of the flower.
Over picking of the Cardinal flower has led to the plants’ scarcity or threatened status in some states. The plant is easy to grow in normal garden cultivation, and would be a lovely addition to any garden wishing to broaden its appeal to wildlife.
The Cloudless Sulphur butterfly uses cassia species of plants (in the pea family) as host plants for its caterpillars. The adults get nectar from flowers with long tubes, such as cardinal flower, hibiscus and wild morning glories.
Our sources for this article:
for more information about the flower:
Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center, the University of Texas. 2009. http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LOCA2
USDA, NRCS. 2009. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov, 18 August 2009). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.
for more information about the butterfly:
Opler, Paul A., Kelly Lotts, and Thomas Naberhaus, coordinators. 2009. Butterflies and Moths of North America. Bozeman, MT: Big Sky Institute. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/ (Version MMDDYYYY).
