It is native to the Americas, where it is distributed in South, Central, and North America as far north as Arizona in the United States. It is known by several English-language common names, including Mexican lobelia, Sierra Madre lobelia, Mexican cardinalflower, looseflowering lobelia, and drooping lobelia.In general, this is a perennial herb, subshrub, or shrub usually growing up to about 1.5 meters in maximum height.