Lobelia cardinalis var. pseudosplendens
Cardinal flower
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · licence
Family: Campanulaceae · Type: Perennial · Native
Lobelia cardinalis var. pseudosplendens (Cardinal flower) is a native California perennial in the Campanulaceae family, recognized by red flowers vs blue, upright habit vs decumbent, stream habitat vs cliff seeps.
Cardinal flower is a California native perennial found in southern California's Gabilan and Santa Ynez Mountains, Peninsular Ranges, and Panamint Mountains in stream bottoms at elevations of 450 to 1,600 meters. Flowering from August to October, this plant produces vibrant red flowers with a tubular corolla 15 to 20 millimeters long. Growing 4 to 2 meters tall with erect stems colored deep purple-red and up to 1.5 centimeters in diameter, it forms a striking vertical presence in riparian habitats. Its leaves are arranged along the tall stems, creating a dramatic backdrop for the intense red floral display. As a short-lived perennial, this cardinal flower brings a bold splash of color to moist mountain stream environments.
Identification and appearance
Key characters: 1 sympatric species; distinguished by red flowers vs blue, upright habit vs decumbent, stream habitat vs cliff seeps
Habitat and range
Habitat: Stream bottoms
Elevation: 450-1600 m
Outside California: to western Texas, Mexico
Bloom period
Lobelia cardinalis var. pseudosplendens blooms Aug-Oct.
How to tell it apart
vs Penstemon: Lobelia has spherical seed pods; Penstemon has elongated capsules that split lengthwise.; vs Cuphea: Lobelia flowers have 5 petals in irregular shape; Cuphea has tubular flowers with 6 petals.; vs Salvia: Lobelia has spherical capsules; Salvia has 4 small nutlets at flower base.; vs Keckiella: Lobelia has spherical seed pods; Keckiella has flattened capsules.; vs Viola: Lobelia has tubular two-lipped flowers; Viola has 5-petaled flowers with a distinct lower spur.
Frequently asked questions
Is Lobelia cardinalis var. pseudosplendens native to California?
Yes. Lobelia cardinalis var. pseudosplendens is native to California (recorded as native).
When does Lobelia cardinalis var. pseudosplendens bloom?
Lobelia cardinalis var. pseudosplendens blooms Aug-Oct.
What plant family does Lobelia cardinalis var. pseudosplendens belong to?
Lobelia cardinalis var. pseudosplendens is in the Campanulaceae family, genus Lobelia.
What habitat does Lobelia cardinalis var. pseudosplendens grow in?
Lobelia cardinalis var. pseudosplendens grows in Stream bottoms.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-09-30
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.