L. cardinalis is a riparian species that frequents the silty river basins of eastern MN counties like the St. Croix River. A great place to observe them naturally is on the northside of Cr 68 on the east floodplain of the Vermillion River SE of Hastings, MN in Dakota Co. June and July is when I have observed them.

It is now commonly sold in garden centers (thought they have selected an atypical reddish leaved selection (duh, they're gardeners that can't help themselves)) but all will do well on compacted sandy/silted or well drained loam with neutral to lower pH sites with good moisture. They are shorted lived and will choose their own preferred locations if you are not too rigid with your gardening agenda. Hummingbirds LOVE them!

I spotted this flower this morning along the river at Interstate State Park. I was amazed at the striking color.

These flowers are blooming all over the backwaters of the Mississippi (the MN and WI side). First started seeing them this year in the first few days of August. The bright red really pops!

There are several plants in a well-shaded area of the watergarden behind the public library. The color is a gorgeous red. For the last two years, they have bloomed from mid- to late July, and until early Sept. They are in a very secluded spot in the garden.

I saw several of these flowers on the root river bicycle trail. Beautiful vibrant red caught our eye. they were on the east part of the trail, near Preston on the edge of a wooded part of the path.

I spotted one of these brilliant blooms from halfway across the river while I was paddling on Friday, September 13. At first, I actually thought it was something manmade (garbage or something) because it was so brightly-colored. Kind of like a scarlet tanager I saw last May. But I paddled over and sure enough, it was a flower. Gorgeous color for late summer.

We have some growing along Minnehaha Creek at 31st Ave & 46th street. Spectacular!

I planted Cardinal Flowers last year and find they have a hard time standing upright. The stalks lay on the ground and the flowers appear to reach for the stars. Any suggestions to get them to stand upright?

Saw some of these in a restored native area in Ramsey MN

During the summer of 2014, we did a shore line restoration project where wild/native flowers were planed. Had one of these flower come up and bloomed (we did not plant the flower specifically). It was just so beautiful it stood out between the yellow and purple flowers planed. I hope the flower will spread on it own.

There are many of these beautiful flowers blooming in the backwaters of the Mississippi around Wabasha at this time (August 4, 2016)

I have them coming up in my garden right now! August 5th. I wasn't sure what they were until I went on this site. They are strictly volunteers and a big surprise!

There were several plants blooming on the edge of the creek on the edge of one of the lakes in the park tonight. Also Great Blue Lobelia close by, though less than last year.

I have 6 to 8 plants outside my window in a small flower garden. They came up all by themselves. Started with 1-2 plants a couple years ago, and have somehow reproduced themselves. The hummingbirds simply adore them! Would love to know where to get more.

9-5-16. You can find them in Little Canada, MN. They are growing on Co. Rd. C a little west of Edgerton St. on the north side.

There's a nice patch of them blooming right now along the access road to Somerset Landing across the river from Marine on St. Croix.

Encountered a large patch of Cardinal flowers in full bloom about 40 feet from the edge of the St. Croix river at Arcola Bluffs trail, south of Marine-on-St. Croix. Among the stems was one pure white (albino) variant.

I found one of these growing on the banks of the Mississippi River in Grand Rapids. Was amazed at its beauty. Only one plant and it was about finished blooming on Sept.2nd. I took a couple seed pods for next year.

By chance in 2016 I also spotted the cardinal flowers posted by Harris. I was mesmerized by the brilliant red flower. Not knowing what they were I began searching red flowers. Found them! Fall of 2016 I bought a few from Bachman. Wintered them over with a straw blanket. This summer I had a beautiful display of brilliant red. Exposure is north facing back yard with some east morning sun and a little west depending on sun's movement through the summer. Hummingbirds have found them. So fun to watch. They also are enjoying my red salvia.

A few bordering the river at Marine on St. Croix ... striking super-saturated color like no other. May try to plant a few for the Hummers at home.

Found 100's of plants in flower along Sauk River in the grassy banks. Second week of September declining peak anthesis.

There are some in the native plantings in the easement behind my house. How do you tell the difference between cardinal flower and goldenrod before they bloom? Thanks.

Lara, cardinal flower has angled stems, goldenrods are round.

I planted 3 plants a few weeks ago. I got them at a garden center they were about 15 inches high.In two weeks they have really grown they are so Beautiful and colorful. I just planted 3 more flowers today 8/23/20 the hummingbirds have found them.They look more like a small bush.I JUST LOVE THEM.

Generally found blooming at Northland Arboretum in Brainerd during Aug-Sept, near a wetland area called the Monet Pond.

Observed it growing on wetter sites on a prairie that is on the hillside above Eagle Point Lake

They grow in wetlands surrounding an inlet to Halsted Bay by my house. Incredibly vibrant red. There are not very many, much more irises and other wetland wild flowers. Anyway to encourage them?

Elizabeth, cardinal flower likes disturbance, which is why they are often found in floodplains. In a garden setting, raking the area can encourage them, but can also encourages weeds.

scattered some seeds in a swampy area in new hope about 5 years ago and forgot about them. last summer spotted a plant blooming in that swamp. great red color !

Observed many cardinal flower plants in the floodplain of Hok-si-la Park on the edge of Lake City on Lake Pepin (Wabasha County).

Spotted a Cardinal Flower growing in Lebanon Hills Regional Park near Schulze Lake along the Discovery Trail. I was surprised to see it growing there because of how heavily wooded it is, but this particular spot was a little more open.

I did not realize this was rare in the wild. Documented on inaturalist

I had never seen Cardinal flower and was amazed with it's vivid color. Only one blooming plant. This was a fishing trip that I will always remember. Martin Lake is in North East Anoka County MN.

On August 18th, 2022 there are hundreds of these flaming red plants on the delta of a ravine that guts into the St. Croix River at the Carpenter Nature Center. I believe this delta was formed at the end o the last ice age whan a terpoary small lake overtopped a ridge causing the great volume of water to make the temporary waterfall west of the river. The mass of material was then dropped in the river. The delta is now on the east side of former RR right-of-way. Now, under the cottonwood trees it's perfect for cardinal flowers. The plants and location is amazing.

We moved to our wooded lot three years ago and had a stand of these in back. Unfortunately, between pulling up yards of landscape fabric and drier weather, we haven't seen any foe the last two years. To my surprise, five plants unexpectedly popped up in a front garden! Hoping we can figure out how to propogate. Would be a nice transition following bee balm.

Lorraine, it's my understanding that cardinal flower does best where there is some soil disturbance. Try raking the area in the spring and fall and see if that increases the population.

I had quite a few cardinal flowers this summer in my pollinator garden. I purchased small plants last summer at the Anoka area gardeners plant sale. The humming birds loved them. I had another garden with blue and white lobelia with the red cardinal flower.. beautiful show of a patriotic garden. I collected seeds and plan to winter sow them.

Can I plant this as a near native in Austin? This flower is so beautiful and distinct and I'd love to add it to my garden to attract hummingbirds, but I'm unsure if I should since it's not native to Mower county. I'm concerned it will spread like a weed, too.

Paige, yes, you should plant it. I would not be too concerned about its "nativeness" so much, since wild populations aren't so far away from Mower County. I would also not be too concerned about it spreading like a weed. In the wild it tends to emerge after disturbance (such as flooding, downed trees, etc.) so may not persist in a garden setting without regular disturbance, which is what happened in my own yard. I hear lightly raking the area at least annually might do the trick.

I was surprised to see a small stand near Rochester in Olmsted County along the pond at Izaak Walton Wetlands. This area gets a lot of management so perhaps they were in a seed mix.