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Medicinal
Aroma
NativeLobelia cardinalis
Light: Full -Part Sun
Temperature: Herbaceous perennial hardy in Zones 3 to 9
Watering: Like to be watered frequently
Soil: Well drain soil and likes to stay on moist /wet side. Never dry out the soil!
Comments: This easy to grow perennial is one you plant and just enjoy. Before your first frost it could benefit if a layer of mulch is applied to help protect the roots during extremes winter temperatures also help keep the soil moist.
A profuse bloomer, Lobelia, also known as "cardinal flower", makes a bold and beautiful statement in your yard or garden! Fond of moist environments, Lobelia is found naturally along creek beds and marshlands, and is often mistaken for a weed.
Used in traditional Native American medicine though considered poisonous if ingested, Lobelia was once used to treat cramps, fever sores, indigestion and even typhoid. It was also an important plant to various ceremonies and spiritual rites, and was used to create love charms.
It may take up to two years for this plant to get established and bloom, but it's well worth the wait. Hummingbirds absolutely LOVE the brilliant red blooms of this Lobelia variety and will surely put on an aerial show to be near it. Plant some nearby and enjoy watching dozens of hummers zip impatiently to the tall red flower spikes of this perennial all summer long.
Its beautiful, compact blooms do not need to be removed once they begin to die, as more will continue to grow. The deeply rooting nature of the Lobelia 'cardinal flower' makes it sensitive to transplanting, but because it puts off small seedlings near its base and reseeds reliably, you should have no problem producing enough plants to fill your yard. The plants can be divided at the root ball, grown from seed or by placing cuttings from the plant directly into moist soil. Use peat moss to keep this boggy plant moist but not wet and enjoy its rich color from mid summer into early fall!
Lobelia cardinalis
