Why is my cardinal flower so weird? - Ask Extension
I have many stalks of cardinal flower around my garden beds. Most look totally normal. However, 2 stalks - which happen to be right next to each other...
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Why is my cardinal flower so weird? #942918
Asked August 19, 2026, 4:19 PM EDT
I have many stalks of cardinal flower around my garden beds. Most look totally normal. However, 2 stalks - which happen to be right next to each other - are quite odd. They sort of look like "Frankenstein" plants. (Note: these are NOT newly purchased plants.)
The main stalks of both plants seem taller than usual (almost 6ft), and they have branched in an unusual way.
One plant has "rings" of candelabra style branches around the central stem, and each small branch has flowered. I have included a picture that shows the junction of one such ring where 6 slender stems sprout out of the thick, main stem.
The other weird cardinal plant is unbranched right up to the very top, but then it has 2 thick flower heads.
Maybe these are normal things, but I have never seen anything like this in over 20 years of native plant gardening.
My best guess is that these plants have hybridized with something, but what? Do you have any ideas? Is this common?
Wayne CountyMichigan
Expert Response
Hi Colleen,
Thank you for contacting Ask Extension about your cardinal flower (Lobelia Cardinalis) - a lovely plant and a favorite of the pollinators. In order to provide meaningful feedback, I will need a picture of the entire plant(s) and the neighboring plants including the odd flower head. It is difficult to see what is going on with your plants from this close up picture.
Please resubmit additional pictures and I will get back to you.