cardinal flower
Also known as: bog sage; hog's physic; Indian pink; red bay; scarlet lobelia; slinkweed; water gladiole; brilliant lobelia
L. cardinalis is an erect, clump-forming herbaceous perennial to 90cm in height, with rather glossy bright green oblong leaves and brilliant scarlet, two-lipped flowers 5cm in length in terminal spikes
Scientific classification
- Species
- cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
- Genus
- Lobelia
- Family
- Campanulaceae
- Harmful if eaten, skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling]
- Toxicity
- Bogs · Herbaceous Perennial
- Plant type
- 0.5-1 metres
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- Deciduous
- Foliage
- Clump forming
- Habit
- Spring · Summer · Autumn
- Season of interest
- Full sun · Partial shade
- Sunlight
- Information to be completed
- Ideal temperature
cardinal flower pictures
Distribution of cardinal flower
Distribution map
- Native
- Introduced
- Cultivated
“Cultivated” is a display category for regions without a native or introduced record, not verified cultivation coverage. Antarctica is shown in white.
Source：WCVP v16 · Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew · CC BY 3.0 · Boundaries：WGSRPD / TDWG
Culture
Information to be completed
Toxicity
Harmful if eaten, skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling]
Quick identification of cardinal flower
Information to be completed
cardinal flower care guide
- Keep soil consistently moist to wet, never allowing roots to dry
- Watering
- Full sun · Partial shade
- Sunlight
- Information to be completed
- Ideal temperature
Watering
Keep soil consistently moist to wet, never allowing roots to dry
Fertilizing
FertilizingLight balanced feed in spring and early summer growth
Pruning
PruningCut back after flowering
Propagation
PropagationPropagate by seed sown in gentle heat as soon as ripe, or by bud cuttings in late summer
Growing
GrowingGrow in deep, fertile, reliably moist soil in full sun or partial shade
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Common pests and diseases
Diseases
May be susceptible to crown rot
Pests
May be susceptible to slugs
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