The Vibrant Red Perennial That Will Lure Cardinals To Your Yard

It's always exciting to see a bright red cardinal darting across the garden. The male's fiery plumage provides a stark contrast to bright green leaves and shrubs. Attract more of these pretty birds with the bright red perennial wildflower that can draw them to your yard: the scarlet sage (Salvia coccinea). Cardinals and other songbirds, like goldfinches, can eat the small seeds of scarlet sage flowers, which can bloom anytime it's warm outside. 

Northern cardinals, which typically do not migrate, love seeds, and have strong beaks that can crush even the hardest of shells. But they also like some kinds of fruits and berries. Some swear that tomato plants and cardinals go well together, but cardinals typically prefer bugs or seeds over tomatoes, and probably will only eat a tomato now and again when their other preferred foods are scarce. Tomato plants might not attract cardinals, but seeds in the bird feeder will. They've even been known to munch grass seeds, which can be a problem if you're trying to reseed your lawn. Try laying down some mulch as one way to keep birds from eating grass seeds. 

The scarlet sage will bloom in the spring and summer, producing cylindrical, red flowers with sweet nectar that hummingbirds and butterflies also love. And while scarlet sage can survive dry conditions, it's less likely to flower if it's not properly watered. Of course, too much water will drown the plant, so ensure the plant has good drainage. 

Scarlet sage will do well in a flower bed or a pot, but it prefers a fair amount of sun and should be spaced about 1 to 1.5 feet apart. This herbaceous perennial in the mint family thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 9 through 10, and is commonly found throughout the southwest, but it can also reseed in zones 6 through 8. This red bloom will grow in colder climates, but it might not rebound after cold winters, acting more like an annual and less like a perennial.

Scarlet sage isn't the only colorful plant that attracts cardinals. Cardinals love the staghorn sumac tree (Rhus typhina), and flock to its colorful berries for a part of their diet in winter. Cardinals also love sunflowers (Helianthus annuus L.), since sunflower seeds are among their favorite seeds in the birdfeeder. 

If you're really serious about attracting cardinals to the yard, keep domestic cats indoors and try to reduce the amounts of chemical pesticides or weed killers used around the garden — they can be harmful to the colorful birds. Also, make sure there's plenty of shrub cover since cardinals feel more comfortable when they can find quick shelter. Think about adding a bird bath, too. Though, before doing that, first weigh the downsides to consider before adding a birdbath to your yard. They can be breeding grounds for mosquitoes, and cleaning them requires diligence and elbow grease.