Perch Supply
Pennsylvania · Perennial

Cardinal flower for birds in Pennsylvania

Late-summer red spikes for moist soil. Native to Pennsylvania, where it feeds or shelters 3 backyard bird species.

Scientific name
Lobelia cardinalis
Native status
Native in Pennsylvania
Hardiness zones
USDA 5a–7b
What birds get from it
nectar
Pennsylvania birds supported
3
Nesting birds among them
3

Growing conditions in Pennsylvania

Humid continental; cold, snowy winters in the north and mountains, milder in the southeast.

Warm summers; bluebirds typically raise two broods.

Pennsylvania birds that use Cardinal flower

Nesting season it supports in Pennsylvania

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 — May–August
  • Baltimore Oriole — May–July
  • Orchard Oriole — May–June

Native plants to pair with Cardinal flower in Pennsylvania

Trumpet honeysuckle
Lonicera sempervirens · Vine

Native red tubular flowers timed to hummingbird arrival.

Trumpet creeper
Campsis radicans · Vine

Large orange trumpets through midsummer.

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.

Winterberry
Ilex verticillata · Shrub

Winter fruit.

Black cherry
Prunus serotina · Tree

Summer fruit and a major caterpillar host.

Frequently asked

Is Cardinal flower native to Pennsylvania?

Yes. Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) is recorded as native in Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania spans USDA 5a–7b.

What birds does Cardinal flower attract in Pennsylvania?

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

Does Cardinal flower help nesting birds in Pennsylvania?

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

Sources

  1. USDA PLANTS Database (native distribution)
  2. VASCAN (Canadian native distribution)
  3. eBird region overview and bar charts — Pennsylvania
  4. USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023)
  5. Audubon Native Plants Database

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.