Plants: Lobelia cardinalis - Cardinal Flower

Brilliant Crimson Spikes Glow in Late Summer and Fall! Dark purple-red foliage! Brighten the part-shade garden with rich red blooms to bridge that awkward time in between summer and fall, when much of the garden is not at its best! Cardinal Flower is a hardy native U.S. plant that thrives in any moist, organically-enriched soil receiving both sun and shade.

The blooms are tubular and arise profusely up and down slender, elegant stems just 3 feet tall. Even the foliage on this easy-to-grow plant is handsome: the dark purple-red leaves emphasize the bright blooms! One of the few plants that doesn't mind getting its feet wet, this Lobelia is a great choice for the edge of steams and ponds. Though not exceptionally long-lived, it is very hardy and colorful--superb for the vase as well as the garden.

Publisher: Hirt's Gardens