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Lobelia cardinalis

Lobelia cardinalis

cardinal flower

Common name cardinal flower

Family campanulaceae

Life cycle perennial

Flowers red (summer)

Size 24"

Light sun-part shade

Cultural notes moist soil

US native famous for its popping-scarlet flowers in mid-summer. We've had mixed success with this plant; it really insists on consistent moisture, and will fade away if drought strikes. One year I planted one in a pot placed along the edge of our little pond, the pot not quite submerged. It did marvellously that season, but did not return the next year. Our latest attempt (following a generous gift by a plant sale customer) is similar: set in a pot placed in our big pond's filtration bog, the plant has consistently moist soil. It certainly likes its current lot - we'll see if this one survives winter.

In our garden, this plant grows in the following areas: pond filtration bog, sale plot

Seed for this plant is included on my seed trade list

One or more images of this plant are included in my stock photo catalog

About my plant portraits
PlantLinks to other web pages about Lobelia cardinalis

Seed-starting details for this plant

Seed from '06 trade. Baggy 70F with light (3%G, 24-38d)
Seed from '07 trade. Baggy 70F with light (18+%G, 15-29d)

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Last modified: July 27, 2008
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