Yes — Strong Match
cardinal flower (zones 3-9) covers every zone District of Columbia contains (7b-8a), so hardiness is not what limits it anywhere in the state.
Your yard isn't the whole zone.
District of Columbia spans zones 7b-8a, but your yard sits in exactly one — and slope, tree cover, and cold-air pockets nudge it further. Enter your address and we'll score cardinal flower against your parcel's actual hardiness, soil, and sun.
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Zone Comparison
Cardinal Flower Needs
- USDA Zones: 3-9
- Mature size: 3 ft tall
- Picking window: ~30 days of harvest
- Drought tolerance: Low
District of Columbia Has
- USDA Zones: 7b-8a
- Last Hard Freeze (28°F): Mar 15
- First Hard Freeze (28°F): Nov 24
- Annual Rainfall: 39-43 inches
- Common Soils: Urban fill, Silt loam, Clay loam
Plant Zone Range (zones 3-9)
Plant data: USDA PLANTS Database / Growable Ground plant catalog. State data: USDA ARS PHZM 2023, NOAA Climate Normals, NRCS SSURGO.
When to Plant Cardinal Flower in District of Columbia
The frost window
Across District of Columbia, the last spring hard freeze (28°F) clears between Mar 15 and Mar 15, and the first fall hard freeze lands between Nov 24 and Nov 24 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). Counting from the latest last freeze to the earliest first freeze, that's a 254-day window you can count on — up to 254 days on a mild site in a kind year. That marks the hard freeze, not the last light frost, so tender transplants usually wait another 2-3 weeks.
Winter standing
District of Columbia runs as cold as USDA zone 7, and no sourced winter-hardiness floor is on record for cardinal flower, so this page does not state whether it overwinters here — and gives no fall establishment date on the strength of a guess. Whether cardinal flower is a permanent planting or a replant-every-spring crop for you turns on your own zone within District of Columbia; check its hardiness range against that before treating it as long-lived ground.
Frost window: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020. Plant timing fields: USDA PLANTS Database. Your site's own frost dates can run earlier or later than the state range — a parcel report pins them down.
Cardinal Flower in District of Columbia — Quick Answer
- Verdict: Yes — Strong Match
- Plant Zones: 3-9 (USDA PLANTS Database)
- State Zones: 7b-8a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023)
- Growing Season: 28°F hard freezes about Mar 15 to Nov 24 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020)
What Else to Consider for Cardinal Flower in District of Columbia
Zone compatibility tells you about winter cold survival — but District of Columbia growers also need to think about:
Dense urban siting means small lots, compacted fill soils, and limited sun
Summer heat and humidity promote fungal diseases
The urban heat-island effect pushes summer temperatures above surrounding suburbs
What to actually do about these — and the constraints that apply to every District of Columbia grower, not just cardinal flower — is covered on the District of Columbia growing guide.
Where in District of Columbia Fits Best
Even within District of Columbia's zones 7b-8a, county microclimates differ enough to change what thrives. These counties carry the closest zone match for cardinal flower (USDA PHZM 2023):
Pollinator + Wildlife Value
Cardinal Flower draws hummingbirds, native bees, and butterflies (high value, Growable Ground Plant Database). Planting it near vegetable beds can lift fruit set on neighboring crops. Outdoors, cardinal flower can only work that bloom inside District of Columbia's frost window — roughly 254 days, opening after the last 28°F freeze (Mar 15) and closing at the first (Nov 24), per NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020.
District of Columbia Cooperative Extension
For District of Columbia-specific cultivar recommendations, planting calendars, and pest pressure for cardinal flower, the canonical source is UDC Center for Urban Agriculture. Their fact sheets carry the local trial data we can't generalize across 50 states.
Is Cardinal Flower native to District of Columbia?
Yes — the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) documents Cardinal Flower as native to District of Columbia. Planting it supports the pollinators and wildlife that evolved alongside it.
Native-range data: USDA PLANTS Database state-distribution records, accessed 2026-07-01.
Common Questions About Growing Cardinal Flower in District of Columbia
When can I plant Cardinal Flower in District of Columbia?
District of Columbia's last spring hard freeze (28°F) clears between Mar 15 and Mar 15, and the first fall hard freeze lands between Nov 24 and Nov 24 (NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). No sourced winter-hardiness floor is on record for Cardinal Flower, so this page does not state whether it overwinters in District of Columbia and publishes no fall establishment date for it — check its hardiness range against your own zone before treating it as a permanent planting.
What hardiness zone is Cardinal Flower grown in across District of Columbia?
District of Columbia spans USDA hardiness zones 7b-8a (USDA ARS PHZM 2023). Cardinal Flower carries a range of zones 3-9, so the overlap zones are where outdoor growing is most reliable.
How many frost-free days does a typical District of Columbia site have?
A typical District of Columbia site sees ~254 frost-free days per year (derived from NOAA Regional Climate Centers ACIS, 1991-2020). Cardinal Flower should be matched against that window, so check whether your local microclimate runs above or below the state average before settling on a planting date.
Is Cardinal Flower native to District of Columbia?
Yes — the USDA PLANTS Database (accessed 2026-07-01) documents Cardinal Flower as native to District of Columbia. Planting it supports the pollinators and wildlife that evolved alongside it.
Will Cardinal Flower actually grow on my specific land in District of Columbia?
State-level zone + climate data is a sketch. A Growable Ground parcel report scores cardinal flower against your address's exact soil pH, drainage, sun, and frost-date data drawn from USDA SSURGO, NOAA, and PRISM — not state averages.
Check your specific parcel in District of Columbia
State-level data is a sketch. Your Growable Ground report scores cardinal flower against your parcel's exact soil, sun, drainage, and frost data — not zone averages.
Three things about your lot that District of Columbia cardinal flower averages can't show:
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Growing guides for cardinal flower
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