Cardinal Flower
Propinqua lobelia cardinalis var.
Cardinal flower. A cardinal flower plant can appear to live longer than 3 or 4 years because the plants readily re seed themselves giving the appearance of longer life when it is really just new plants growing from seeds that were dropped from last years flowers. It forms an upright mound of green foliage bearing taller spikes of scarlet red flowers in mid to late summer. They do like to stay on the moist side. Attractive to both hummingbirds and butterflies.
The tall spires of color add great interest in the garden when most big bloom is finished. Graminea lobelia cardinalis var. Cardinal flower overwinters as an evergreen rosette of basal foliage. Cardinal flower campanulaceae bellflower family synonyms.
Phyllostachya lobelia cardinalis var. Named for the vivid red color of a roman catholic cardinals robe the cardinal flower lobelia cardinalis produces intense red blossoms at a time when many other perennials are declining in the summer heatthis plant is an excellent choice for naturalizing and wildflower meadows but youll also enjoy growing cardinal flowers in perennial borders. Cardinal flower also known as lobelia are the hybrids of the wild lobelia most botanists call americas most vivid wildflower it lights up moist spots during mid summer in sun and shade. The red bell shaped flowers of red lobelia are pollinated by hummingbirds and are a dramatic addition to the native plant garden.
Do not allow the basal foliage to become covered with leaf litter mulch or other debris. If covered the basal rosettes cannot photosynthesize and the plants starve leading to the popular misperception that cardinal flower is short lived. Cardinal flower is a member of the lobelia family and lobelia like rich moist well drained soil. One of our best known native wildflowers the cardinal flower adapts well to garden condition especially in moist areas beside ponds or water features.
If the soil is sandy add a shovelful of compost for each. Pseudosplendens lobelia fulgens lobelia splendens. These flowers for shade are attractors of butterflies and their red flowers will certainly also attract hummingbirds. Plant cardinal flowers in spring or fall spacing them about a foot apart.
Meridionalis lobelia cardinalis var. Graminea lobelia cardinalis var. Choose a location with morning sun and afternoon shade. In the wild it grows on stream river and lake shores and in marshes.
Lobelia cardinalis lobelia cardinalis l. Multiflora lobelia cardinalis var.