Lobelia cardinalis

The Lobelia cardinalis, also known as Cardinal Flower, is a tall North American perennial that thrives in moist to wet soil and has a striking effect on the banks of water bodies, in wetlands, and even in aquariums. It forms a beautiful bushy clump and is adorned with large scarlet flower spikes, from summer to early autumn. It should be planted in a sunny position, sheltered from the wind, in rich and moist soil where it will readily self-seed. A perfect plant for aquatic environments!

The Cardinal Flower belongs to the family of campanulas. This botanical species is native to North America (southeast Canada, east and southwest United States, Mexico) and Central America up to the north of Colombia. In the wild, it is found exclusively in moist environments, on banks and in marshes. It is a tall upright perennial that reaches an average height of 80 cm (32in) with a width of 45 cm (18in). It takes some time to establish itself in the garden, then its growth accelerates somewhat. Vegetation emerges from the ground in spring. Robust leafy stems, often purple at the base, emerge from the stump. The leaves are light green and vibrant, sometimes tinged with bronze to purple underneath, lanceolate in shape, with toothed edges, and arranged alternately along the stem. They are large at the base of the stem, measuring up to 20 cm (8in) long and 5 cm (2in) wide, and become smaller as they approach the flower spike, similar to the leaves of foxgloves. From August to October, floral spikes measuring 30-40 cm (12-16in) in height emerge at the top of the stems. The flowers progressively bloom along the spike. They are bright red and measure up to 4 cm (2in) in diameter. Each flower is composed of a tube that widens into 5 narrow lobes. This perennial tends to be short-lived, but self-seeds in favorable conditions without becoming invasive. Its above-ground, deciduous vegetation dries up in autumn and re-emerges in spring.

The Lobelia cardinalis has fairly good hardiness (-12/-15° C). Allow for a relatively large space so that the plant can develop and charm you with its vigor. It thrives in sunny positions with moist soil, but also in slightly shaded positions, in soil that remains slightly moist in summer. It is ideal in water gardens and in border plantings around ponds. Its striking habit is enhanced when planted with Phlox, Grasses, Goat's Beards, and Astilbes. It also pairs beautifully with its white-flowered cousin Lobelia siphilitica Alba. It is also used in so-called "Dutch" aquariums, which are decorated with dense groves, relying on different colors, shapes, and textures.