cardinal flower
noun
: a North American lobelia (Lobelia cardinalis) that bears a spike of brilliant red flowers
Examples of cardinal flower in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The striking red cardinal flower is one that is primarily pollinated by hummingbirds, for example.
—
Claire Therese Hemingway, The Conversation, 18 Aug. 2025
Great blue lobelia is a relative of cardinal flower that produces showy light to dark blue blooms from July to October.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 18 July 2025
Fifty varieties of plants are available for purchase, including four milkweed varieties, several grasses, native purple coneflower, cardinal flower, great blue lobelia, meadow blazing star, New England aster, prairie smoke, wild columbine and wild lupine.
—Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024
Notable blooms include the spring ephemerals — trillium, lady slipper orchids, crested dwarf iris, columbine, bleeding heart, and violets, to name a few — and the summer arrival of red cardinal flowers, purple-fringed orchids, and black-eyed Susans.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2024
Some of the best plants for attracting and feeding hummingbirds are bee balm, salvia, coralbells, columbine, cardinal flower, coral honeysuckle, trumpet vine, and Indian pink.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2023
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Claire Therese Hemingway, The Conversation, 18 Aug. 2025
Great blue lobelia is a relative of cardinal flower that produces showy light to dark blue blooms from July to October.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 18 July 2025
Fifty varieties of plants are available for purchase, including four milkweed varieties, several grasses, native purple coneflower, cardinal flower, great blue lobelia, meadow blazing star, New England aster, prairie smoke, wild columbine and wild lupine.
—Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024
Notable blooms include the spring ephemerals — trillium, lady slipper orchids, crested dwarf iris, columbine, bleeding heart, and violets, to name a few — and the summer arrival of red cardinal flowers, purple-fringed orchids, and black-eyed Susans.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2024
Some of the best plants for attracting and feeding hummingbirds are bee balm, salvia, coralbells, columbine, cardinal flower, coral honeysuckle, trumpet vine, and Indian pink.
—Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Cardinal flower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cardinal%20flower. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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