Cardinal Flower

The hardy Lobelias are excellent, very attractive perennials for partial shade ( also sun tolerant ) on moist, fertile soil and are not usually eaten by deer but loved by Hummingbirds. Unless noted, the following are hardy from zones 3 to 8. In wooded areas, remove fallen tree leaves quickly in autum; rosettes will die if covered by leaves in fall and winter. Pest and disease problems are very rare.
Propagation can be from division or seed sown immediately upon ripening. Lobelia cardinalis and its cultivars are also easy to root from cuttings, even in water on the window sill.

* photo taken on Sep 25 2013 in Howard Co., MD

Lobelia cardinalis ( Cardinal Flower )
A rhizomatous, clumping perennial up to 4 x 2 or rarely 7 x 3.5 feet; the Cardinal Flower is native to eastern North America ( Minnesota to New Brunswick; south to eastern Texas to Florida ). It looks especially planted along the woodland ed
The lance shape leaves, up to 8 inches in length, are bright green.
The basal foliage can be semi-evergreen in sufficiently mild climates.
The stems are purplish and the flowers stalks bear intense scarlet red flowers up to 2 inches in size over a long period from July to September. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Easy to grow and hardy zones 2 to 9 in full sun to partial shade; the Cardinal Flower loves moist and even wet soil. The offsets can be split off to form new plants.

* photo taken on July 2004 @ Tyler Arboretum near Philly

* photo taken on Aug 2 2011 in Luzerne Co., PA

* photos taken on Aug 20 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD






Alba
Pure white flowers

Black Truffle
An introduction from Plants Nouveau, it is similar to the species except for having blackish-purple foliage that turns deep reddish-purple during summer.
The scarlet-red flowers are borne mid to late summer.

* photo taken on May 17 2013 in Baltimore Co., MD

* photos taken on Aug 29 2013 in Clarksville, MD

Cotton Candy
Pinkish white blooms

Eco Pink Flare
Reaches up to 3 feet in height with green foliage contrasting light pink flowers in late summer.

Fried Green Tomatoes
A 2009 introduction from Plants Nouveau that originated from a seedling batch grown by Quality Growers nursery in Pennsylvania. A very vigorous grower, it has foliage that emerges maroon red in spring and turns to deep olive green above and maroon below in summer.
The vivid scarlet red flowers in summer beginning late June attract hummingbirds and butterflies. The blooms can last over a season up to 12 weeks or more.
Hardy zones 4 to 8, and tolerates wet and severe winters in the Midwest.

* photo taken on April 27 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Oct 11 2013 in Columbia, MD

Monet Moment
Extremely vigorous, reaching up to 3 feet with masses of immense rosey-pink flowers.

Rosea
Rose-pink blooms

Summit Snow
Bright pure white blooms.

Lobelia erinus ( Annual Lobelia )
A moderate growing annual trailing plaint, reaching up to 10 inches x 1.5 feet.
The foliage is deep green. The flowers are borne throughout the summer, often until autumn frosts. The cultivars Blue Moon and Sapphire have the most intense, mid blue flowers. Alba has white flowers and Crystal Palade has pink flowers. They are great for hanging baskets and trailing over walls.
It prefers partial shade on fertile, acidic to neutral, well drained soil that is consistently moist. Use an organic mulch to keep soil cool and moist. Slugs may be a problem and can be treated by sprinkling diatomaceous earth on the soil around the plants.

* photo taken on May 7 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on May 22 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photos taken on Aug 29 2013 in Columbia, MD

Lobelia x gerardii
Hybrids between Lobelia cardinalis & L. siphilirica.

Vedrariensis
Reaches up to 5 x 2 feet with deep green foliage up to 6 inches in length and deep lavender-purple flowers from late summer into fall. The foliage often turns red during autumn.
Hardy north to zone 5

Lobelia x hybrida
Generally hardy zones 5 to 8 and with leaves up to 7 inches in length that are usually copper tinted to red. Plants have a much better winter survival rate with a winter mulch in zones 5, 6 and 7. These hybrids bloom over a long season and make excellent bedding perennials thus replacing annuals.

Compliment Series
Reaching up to 2.5 feet with bright green foliage and flowers coming in shades of scarlet, deep red or blue.

* photo taken on July 14 2013 in Harford Co., MD

Dark Crusader
Reaching up to 3 x 1.5 feet with dark purple foliage contrasting with velvety, deep red flowers.

Fan Series
Dense and compact, reaching up to 2.5 x 2.5 feet with flowers coming in rose, scarlet and deep red.

* photo taken on June 22 2013 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on July 15 2013 in Harford Co, MD

Flamingo
Reaches up to 20 inches with mid green foliage contrasting with soft pink flowers from mid to late summer. Hardy north to zone 4.

Gladys Lindley
Reaches up to 4 feet with green foliage and creamy white flowers.

Grape Knee-Hi
A dwarf only reaching 2 x 2 feet with green foliage and deep grape-purple flowers over an extended season from mid summer to mid autumn. Sterile.
Hardy north to zone 6.

La Fresco
Reaches up to 2.5 feet with plum-purple color flowers.

Misty Morn
Strong, vigorous and upright growing, reaching up to 2.5 x 1.5 feet with glowing, intense light purple flowers and dark foliage.
Hardy zones 4 to 8 in sun or partial shade.

Red Beauty
Reaches up to 3 feet in height with showy intense deep red flowers in late summer.

Rose Beacon
Reaches up to 2.5 feet with intense bright rose-pink flowers.

Royal Fuschia
Reaches up to 3 feet with glowing, fluorescent, red-purple flowers on strong plants in mid and late summer.
Hardy zones 5 to 8 in full sun on rich, moist soil.

Ruby Slippers
Reaches up to 4 x 3.5 feet with intense deep red flowers over a long season lasting late summer into early autumn.
Extremely cold hardy.

Tania
Reaches up to 4 feet with magenta-purple flowers. Hardy north to zone 4.

Wildwood Splendor
Reaches up to 4 feet with intense bright purple flowers. Hardy north to zone 4.

Lobelia siphilitica ( Blue Cardinal Flower )
A fast growing, upright perennial, reaching up to 5 x 2 feet, that is native to eastern U.S. ( from South Dakota to Maine; south to Kansas to Mississippi to North Carolina ).
The foliage is deciduous to semi-evergreen depending on climate. The leaves are light green and up to 9 x 3 inches.
It bears spikes up to 30 inches long of clear bright blue flowers up to 2 inches wide all summer long. The flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies.
Very easy to grow, it is tolerant of wet soil and clay. It produced offsets and can spread fast but is NOT invasive.
Hardy zones 3 to 8 in full sun to full shade.

* photo taken on Aug 12 2011 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 20 2011 @ Brookside Gardens, Wheaton, MD

* photos taken on July 21 2012 in Columbia, MD

* photo taken on Aug 4 2013 in Bayfield, Ontario

* photo taken on June 10 2013 in Columbia, MD

Alba
Reaches up to 5 feet in height with pure white flowers.

Lilac Candles
A dwarf, only reaching 1.5 x 1.5 feeet with masses of large heads of attractive lilac flowers lasting over a long season in late summer. The foliage is lustrous deep green.

White Candles
A dwarf, only reaching 1.5 x 1.5 feeet with masses of large heads of attractive white flowers lasting over a long season in late summer. The foliage is lustrous deep green.

Lobelia splendens
Also called Lobelia fulgens. Has long purplish leaves up to 7 inches in length and deep red flowers ( each up to 1 inch in length ). Not as hardy as Lobelia cardinalis being only hardy north to zone 7.

Queen Victoria
Forms a clump quickly and reaches up to 5 x 4 feet.

* photo taken on June 10 2013 in Howard Co., MD

* photo taken on Sep 25 2013 in Howard Co, MD

* photos taken on Oct 31 2013 in Columbia, MD