Perch Supply
Ontario · Perennial

Cardinal flower for birds in Ontario

Scarlet late-summer spikes; a hummingbird magnet in moist soil. Native to Ontario, where it feeds or shelters 3 backyard bird species.

Scientific name
Lobelia cardinalis
Native status
Native in Ontario
Hardiness zones
Canadian zones 0a–7a (southern Ontario roughly equivalent to USDA 4–6)
What birds get from it
nectar
Ontario birds supported
3
Nesting birds among them
3

Growing conditions in Ontario

Humid continental in the south, boreal and subarctic in the north; most backyard birding happens in the southern Great Lakes lowlands.

Short, warm summers; Point Pelee and Long Point are continent-famous migration sites.

Ontario birds that use Cardinal flower

Nesting season it supports in Ontario

Plants that feed adults and host caterpillars matter most while nestlings are in the nest. Local nesting windows for birds that use Cardinal flower:

  • Ruby-throated Hummingbird — June–August
  • Baltimore Oriole — June–July
  • Orchard Oriole — June

Native plants to pair with Cardinal flower in Ontario

Trumpet honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens · Vine

Native red tubular flowers timed to hummingbird arrival.

Wild bergamot
Monarda fistulosa · Perennial

Tubular flowers for hummingbirds and seed heads for finches.

Fireweed
Chamaenerion angustifolium · Perennial

Tall magenta spikes are a key northern hummingbird flower.

Red-osier dogwood
Cornus sericea · Shrub

Fruit and cover.

Flowering dogwood
Cornus florida · Tree

Fat-rich red fall fruit taken by thrushes, bluebirds and woodpeckers.

Eastern red cedar
Juniperus virginiana · Tree

Dense evergreen roost cover and bluish 'berries' eaten through winter.

Frequently asked

Is Cardinal flower native to Ontario?

Yes. Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is recorded as native in Ontario. Ontario spans Canadian zones 0a–7a (southern Ontario roughly equivalent to USDA 4–6).

What birds does Cardinal flower attract in Ontario?

In Ontario, Cardinal flower supports 3 backyard birds, including Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Baltimore Oriole, Orchard Oriole.

Does Cardinal flower help nesting birds in Ontario?

3 of those birds nest in Ontario: Ruby-throated Hummingbird (June–August), Baltimore Oriole (June–July), Orchard Oriole (June).

Sources

  1. USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
  2. VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
  3. eBird region overview and bar charts — Ontario
  4. Plant Hardiness Zones of Canada — Natural Resources Canada
  5. Audubon Native Plants Database
  6. Ontario Breeding Bird Atlas — Birds Canada

Timing reflects typical patterns for the region as a whole; local dates vary with elevation and year. Check the linked eBird bar charts for your county.