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
Despite their name, cardinal flowers do not attract the eponymous bird, instead their cardinal red blooms draw in scores of hummingbirds and butterflies.
—
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 July 2024
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
During the summer, cardinal flower, composites and other wildflowers give the river a colorful look.
—Rex Nelson, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2022
For example, the Rain Garden mix will include such species as blue flag iris, purple coneflower, cardinal flower and New England astor.
—Peter Krouse, cleveland, 2 Mar. 2022
Ruby-throated hummingbirds usually feed on the nectar of red or orange tubular flowers such as trumpet creeper, cardinal flower, honeysuckle, bee-balm, and jewelweed, according to the Cornell website.
—BostonGlobe.com, 17 June 2021
Lovers of native flowers may already be familiar with some of the selections, including various trillium species, Virginia bluebell, wild ginger, cardinal flower, lobelia, bloodroot, blue and black cohosh, blazing star and Allegheny spurge.
—Chris M. Worrell, cleveland, 13 Jan. 2021
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 11 July 2024
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
During the summer, cardinal flower, composites and other wildflowers give the river a colorful look.
—Rex Nelson, Arkansas Online, 25 Sep. 2022
For example, the Rain Garden mix will include such species as blue flag iris, purple coneflower, cardinal flower and New England astor.
—Peter Krouse, cleveland, 2 Mar. 2022
Ruby-throated hummingbirds usually feed on the nectar of red or orange tubular flowers such as trumpet creeper, cardinal flower, honeysuckle, bee-balm, and jewelweed, according to the Cornell website.
—BostonGlobe.com, 17 June 2021
Lovers of native flowers may already be familiar with some of the selections, including various trillium species, Virginia bluebell, wild ginger, cardinal flower, lobelia, bloodroot, blue and black cohosh, blazing star and Allegheny spurge.
—Chris M. Worrell, cleveland, 13 Jan. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Cardinal flower.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cardinal%20flower. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share