Is Cardinal Flower deer resistant?
Lobelia cardinalis
Plant typePerennialHardinessZones 3–9LightPart shadeMature height48–60 inBloomSummer and Fall
MaintenanceModerate
Native range42 US states
Toxic to cats and dogs if eaten
About Cardinal Flower
The most intense red of any hardy perennial, and hummingbirds pollinate it. Short-lived unless the soil stays wet, so site it at a pond edge and let it self-sow.
Soil and care
- Soil pH
- 6 to 7
- Drainage
- Consistently moist
- Water
- High
- Spacing
- 12 to 18 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Maintenance
- Moderate
Similar to Cardinal Flower
Other perennials with the same deer rating.
- African LilyAgapanthus sp.Zones 8–11, genus rangeSeldom damaged
- AsparagusAsparagus officinalisZones 2–9Seldom damaged
- AsterAster sp.Zones 3–8, genus rangeSeldom damaged
- AstilbeAstilbe x arendsiiZones 3–8Seldom damaged
- Baby's BreathGypsophila sp.Zones 3–9, genus rangeSeldom damaged
- BastardsageEriogonum wrightiiZones 5–10Seldom damaged
Where Cardinal Flower grows
Hardy across most of these 51 states on zone range alone. Mountain and coastal areas sit outside the ranges used here, so check your own zone before ordering.
- Pennsylvanianative
- New Jerseynative
- New Yorknative
- Connecticutnative
- Massachusettsnative
- Virginianative
- Marylandnative
- Michigannative
- Wisconsinnative
- Ohionative
- Indiananative
- Illinoisnative
- Minnesotanative
- Missourinative
- North Carolinanative
- Tennesseenative
- Georgianative
- Texasnative
- Coloradonative
- Californianative
- Oregon
- Washington
- New Hampshirenative
- Vermontnative
- Mainenative
- Rhode Islandnative
- Delawarenative
- West Virginianative
- Kentuckynative
- South Carolinanative
- Floridanative
- Alabamanative
- Mississippinative
- Louisiananative
- Arkansasnative
- Oklahomanative
- Kansasnative
- Nebraskanative
- Iowanative
- North Dakota
- South Dakota
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
- Utahnative
- Nevadanative
- Arizonanative
- New Mexiconative
- Alaska
- District of Columbianative
- Hawaii
Highlighted states are within its native range according to the USDA PLANTS database, where it is native to 42 US states in total.
Browse from here
Every list Cardinal Flower belongs to.
Hardy in these zones
Common questions about Cardinal Flower
- Is Cardinal Flower deer resistant?
- Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is rated Seldom Severely Damaged on the Rutgers NJAES four-tier scale. Light browsing at worst; rarely ruined.
- What hardiness zones does Cardinal Flower grow in?
- Cardinal Flower is hardy in USDA zones 3 to 9. Outside that range it will either not survive winter or will struggle with summer heat.
- Does Cardinal Flower grow in shade?
- Yes. Cardinal Flower tolerates part shade, which makes it one of the options for a shaded bed where deer also browse.
- How big does Cardinal Flower get?
- Mature height is roughly 48–60 in. Growth rate is moderate.
- Is Cardinal Flower toxic to dogs or cats?
- Yes. The ASPCA lists Cardinal Flower as toxic to dogs, cats, and horses. Site it away from where animals graze, or choose something else if you have a dog that chews.