Companion plants for Cardinal Flower
Cardinal Flower blooms from July through September. It wants part sun and high water. The 8 companion pairings below each state why the pairing works.
Blooming before Cardinal Flower opens
Rhododendron
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate to high water; blooms in late spring, before this one opens; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; evergreen, so the bed keeps its shape through winter.
English Daisy
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate to high water; blooms in mid spring, before this one opens; low at 6 in, to carpet the ground beneath; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Snowdrop
Takes part sun to part shade and moderate to high water; blooms in late winter, before this one opens; low at 5 in, to carpet the ground beneath; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months.
Chives
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate to high water; blooms in late spring, before this one opens; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; lower at 12 in, for the front of the border.
Pansy
Shares part sun and moderate to high water; blooms in early spring, before this one opens; lower at 8 in, for the front of the border; both offer pollinator forage, in different months.
Taking over as Cardinal Flower finishes
Winterberry
Takes full sun to part sun and high water; blooms in mid fall as this one finishes; both are strong pollinator plants, and they feed in different months; both are North American natives.
Aster
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate to high water; overlaps, then carries the display into mid fall; both are strong pollinator plants; its seed heads stand through winter, for structure and the birds.
Blooming alongside
White Clover
Takes full sun to part sun and moderate to high water; opens in late spring and overlaps into this one's season; low at 4 in, to carpet the ground beneath; both are strong pollinator plants.