CARDINAL FLOWER

Lobelia cardinalis

CARDINAL FLOWER

Southeastern Canada south through the eastern and southwestern United States, Mexico and Central America to northern Colombia Ornamental purposes and has also been used for medicinal purposes Introduced to Europe in the mid 1620s, where the name Cardinal flower was in use by 1629, likely due to the similarity of the flower's color to the vesture of Roman Catholic Cardinals

CARDINAL FLOWER

Related to two other Lobelia species Lobelia inflata (Indian Tobacco) Lobelia siphilitica (Great Lobelia blue flowers and is pollinated by bees, whereas L. cardinalis is red and is pollinated by hummingbirds.

SCIENTIFIC COMMON NAME

Family: Campanulaceae (kam-pan-yew-LAY-see-ee) (Info) Genus: Lobelia (low-BEElee-a) (Info) Species: cardinalis (kardih-NAL-iss) (Info) Synonym:Lobelia splendens Synonym:Lobelia fulgens Synonym:Lobelia speciosa

WHERE IN THE POND IT BEST GROWS?

The Cardinal Flower has tall spikes of intense red flowers. well and looks great at a Pond's edge.

Grows

FEATURES
The leaves are up to 20 cm long and 5 cm broad, lanceolate to oval, with a toothed margin. The flowers are usually vibrant red, deeply fivelobed, up to 4 cm across

CARDINAL FLOWER
Category:

Perennials
Height:

24-36 in. (60-90 cm)

Spacing:

15-18 in. (38-45 cm)

CARDINAL FLOWER

Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade Danger: All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested loom Color: Red loom Time: Mid Summer Late Summer/Early Fall

CARDINAL FLOWER

Other details: Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater Requires consistently moist soil; do not let dry out between waterings Soil pH requirements: 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline)

CARDINAL FLOWER

Propagation Methods: By dividing the rootball From seed; winter sow in vented containers, coldframe or unheated greenhouse From seed; sow indoors before last frost Seed Collecting: Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds

CARDINAL FLOWER

Only live 7 to 10 years and then die North American indigenous used root tea for intestinal problems and syphilis, bronchial problems and colds Alkaloids considered to be potentially toxic