I you like dainty red flowers on a lacy, fern-like vine, you will love Cardinal flower. But watch out; if you plant it in a spot that it likes you may be swept up in its lush growth and loose contact with the outside world until frost. The 2” tubular red flowers are attractive to butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds, as well as to people, so the vine is an asset as the center of fauna activity in a wildlife garden. Like its relative, the morning glory, the flowers open in the morning and close at night, a feature quite interesting to children. My Cardinal Vine is part of an area especially planted to attract birds all year round and grows over a witch hazel tree behind sunflowers, black eyed Susans, cone flowers and a variety of grasses. The vine is a vigorous grower if given decent conditions, and climbs up to 20’. Because it is lacey and delicate it does not hurt most structures, shrubs or trees that it may use for support. It is easy to grow from seed but seeds should be soaked for 24 hours before planting. Once established, it needs little care and tends to reseed so you will not have to buy new plants in future years. Be patient, however, seedlings emerge from the soil late; early June in my zone 7 garden in central North Carolina.
Type: Annual vine.
Bloom: Tubular, red, 2” flower with white or yellow eye; mid summer to frost.
Size: To 20’.
Light: Full sun for best potential; afternoon shade OK in South.
Soil: Average well drained soil.
Fertilizer: Apply a general purpose fertilizer in spring. Avoid over fertilizing or you will have lush foliage at the expense of flowers.
Hardiness: Zones 3-10.
Care: Water during periods of drought.
Pests and Diseases: None of importance.
Propagation: Self seed readily; seedlings emerge in late spring. Easily started from purchased or collected seed, but soak the seeds for 24 hours before planting.
Companion plants: Cardinal Vine is best appreciated as a specimen vine.
{ 19 comments }
I have seeds for cardinal vine — my plan was to put it in a pot and have it grow up the side of the garage, and after your profile, now I’d really like it! But I’ve had really terrible luck with Ipomea sp. seeds… my morning glories and moonflower never seem to sprout, and I do soak for 24 hours beforehand. Any other Ipomea seed-starting tips?
I think these seeds are basically hard to start. I have been trying to get 4′o clocks going and have a success rate of 1 (one). I am discouraged. I have had a little better luck with moon vine and cardinal vine but I have soaked them for 48 hours (24 hours more than the directions/experts recommend). The experts also recommend nicking them with a file so that would be my suggestion (after a 48 hour soak).
Okay, I’ll give that a shot and let you know how it goes. Thanks Karen!
Great! I will await your results.
I got seeds from my sister-in-law and planted them around my porch. I have been collecting the seeds every year so i have beautiful vines with the lovely blooms, entwining themselves around the railings. We have really enjoyed them and have fun seeing how rapidly they grow. I finally found out the name of this vine by researching and ending up on your site.
Mary,
I’m glad to hear that you are enjoying your cardinal vine. It really is a “miracle” plant the way it grows so quickly and looks so great.
Karen
I water my cardinal vines (little red trumpet flowers) every day. Is it advisable as I noticed that the leaves on the lower part of the vines turn yellow while the upper part of the leaves some have turned brown.
Annie,
You don’t say where you are growing your cardinal vines so I have no idea of the soil conditions or other aspects of the environment that might influence growth. The vine is tropical and grows best with moist soil but can tolerate some drought. It also like full sun so could dry out if the soil is sandy, lacks organic matter, or the plant is not watered deeply. Hope this helps.
Karen
I purchased a cardinal vine yesterday, but was told it is a perennial. It is in a pot, so can I take it out of the pot and put it in the ground? Will it come back next year? I live in East Tennessee and would love to try this vine in my yard.
Sue,
The only cardinal vine I have heard of is an annual but it produces an abundance of seeds and usually will return year after year, but there is no guarantee. I have had them return but no when when I mulch heavily. Either way, plant you new acquisition outside where it can climb on something and spread its dainty magic.
Karen
hummingbirds love my cardinal vine, I enjoy watching them on my porch, as it grows up the post and all around. Nancy
Nancy,
cardinal vine is a good one; so is honeysuckle if you want a perennial vine.
Karen
My husband acquired some Cardinal Vine seeds from a customer at work and they didn’t give any detailed instructions on how to start them. I didn’t research how to do it before putting them in their little starter pots, therefore I didn’t soak the seeds. Are they doomed?
–Jennifer
Jennifer,
You didn’t say how long ago you planted the seed so I can’t be sure if the seeds are still viable. The soaking is to soften the seed coat so the little embryo can push itself out of the seed. Even without soaking the seeds should germinate…but will take a longer time. Unfortunately the seeds can also rot if the soil is too wet. I would take care of them for at least a month and hope for the best.
Hope this helps,
Karen
I happened upon this at a farmers market last weekend and bought it to climb up my column in front of my home. I’m bumbed to learn it is an annual! I love in onslow (coastal nc). my question is : what do I do with the vine after it’s done (frost)? Do I take it down? You said it reseeds, but how does that?
Nikki
You don’t have to do anything. The frost bitten vine with disappear and hopefully the seeds will sprout in spring and produce new vines. If you want to be sure to have plants, collect the seeds and plant them in the spring.
Karen
My Cardinal Vine has yellow leaves No blooms yet. How do I treat the plant?
Judy,
The yellow leaves suggest too much water.
Karen
Yellow leaves usually mean too much water but can also be a fungus problem, also acerbated by abundant water. Take a trowel and put it into the soil 5-6″ and look to see if the soil is wet down that deep. If it is, too much water is probably the problem so stop watering it so much. If watering is not the problem you can try a contact fungicide (you can get suitable ones in big box stores). Nitrogen deficiency can also cause the problem and can be quickly fixed with an application of liquid fertilizer high in nitrogen (first number). Hope this helps. Good luck.
Karen
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