cardinal flower

American  

noun

1. a North American plant, Lobelia cardinalis, with showy red tubular flowers in an elongated cluster.

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cardinal flower British  

noun

1. a campanulaceous plant, Lobelia cardinalis of E North America, that has brilliant scarlet, pink, or white flowers

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Etymology

Origin of cardinal flower

An Americanism dating back to 1620–30; so called from its color

Example Sentences

One very common flower resembles our cardinal flower, though not of so deep a color, another is very like rocket or phlox, but smaller and of various colors, white, blue and purple.

From Summer on the Lakes, in 1843 by Fuller, Margaret

And here and there, among the lacy white, a stalk of a different sort grew, with red blossoms of a shade so rich that it is called the cardinal flower.

From Bird Stories by Sim, Robert J.

It is a splendid show of brilliant scarlet, the color of the cardinal flower and surpasses it in mass and profusion.

From Woodcraft or, How a Patrol Leader Made Good by Douglas, Alan

Muriel Blake's golden curls, and azure eyes, and roseate bloom flashed on the eye much as does a cardinal flower in a wayside brook.

From Boston Neighbours In Town and Out by Poor, Agnes Blake

Yet in color it is as rich an orange as the petal of the cardinal flower is a rich scarlet.

From Under the Maples by Burroughs, John