The Cardinal Flower is a native, perennial wildflower. It grows two to four feet tall. The 1-1/2-inch red flowers are borne on a one to 1-1/2-foot spike. Each flower is made of three spreading lower petals and two upper petals, all united into a tube at the base. The lance-shaped, toothed leaves can be up to six inches long. Most of its pollination comes from hummingbirds, since insects find it difficult to navigate its tubular flowers. It grows in moist to wet soil in ditches, ravines, woodland edges, stream banks, prairies, meadows, pastures, savannas, and swamps.