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The Cardinal
Flower is a member of the Bluebell Family, and was
named after the Flemish botanist, Matthias de L'Obel
(1538-1616).
This
clump forming perennial is from eastern North America
is useful for growing in wet places and beside streams
and ponds.
From
late summer to mid fall (mid autumn) it produces
spikes of brilliant, scarlet-red flowers on branching
stems above green or deep bronze-purple foliage.
Few native plants have flowers of such intense color
as this common herbaceous perennial.
The
blossoms are delicate, gradually opening from bottom
to top on two to four foot spikes. Beneath
the flower spikes are numerous dark green leaves,
tapered at both ends.
A
moderately tall plant, stout and erect, it is the
favorite of our ruby throated hummingbird, who obliges
as a pollinator. The many seeds come in two celled
pods which open at the top.
Cardinal
flowers can be grown in full sun or very light shade
but probably grow best in filtered light. Mulch
to keep the roots moist. Seeds planted in the summer
form rosettes of foliage which stay green through
the mild winter of the South. Be careful to keep
leaves and debris from smothering these rosettes.
Beautiful
but deadly, this plant has been used as a medicine
but is also very poisonous. It contains fourteen
alkaloids similar to those in nicotine. Extracts
of the leaves and fruit produce vomiting, sweating,
pain and finally death.
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