Lobelia cardinalis Cardinal Flower
About Our Plants
Rare Roots ships live, growing plants in one-quart pots all over the continental US. The rare exception is our slightly smaller 3.5" inch pot, which will be labeled on a few product pages.
The plants are not guaranteed to be blooming when they arrive, and the foliage may need to be trimmed before shipping to fit them in the box safely.
Our Guarantee:
Our plants are guaranteed to arrive safely in a suitable condition for planting. If they are damaged or if you have concerns, please inform us right away by emailing info@rareroots.com. Even if you are planning to wait and see if it recovers, we need to document the damage on your order.
We are not able to offer warranties or extended guarantees on plants due to the sheer number of variables that can affect their growth and survival.
About Perennials:
Our plants are grown on our 30-acre outdoor nursery in Virginia (available by mail-order only). They are all considered "perennial" if planted within their preferred zone range.
Perennials planted in the coldest zone listed are considered "tender perennials", and may not overwinter in a severe winter. For example: if a plant is rated for zones 7-10, it would be a tender perennial in zone 7. It's best to plant these in spring or early summer, and preferably in a protected area (such as the South side of building).
You can find your growing zone here: [USDA website]
Description
Cardinal Flower, Lobelia cardinalis produces tall spikes of brilliant red blooms over glossy, bronze-tinted foliage from middle to late summer. Although typically red, the blooms may sometimes also be white, pink or rose.
A favorite of hummingbirds, Cardinal Flower is native to all but the northwestern tier of the United States. Lobelia cardinalis is usually found in moist locations such as along streams, in swamps, and low wooded areas.
Lobelia cardinalis prefers full sun to partial shade and humus-rich soils, but tolerates average soil. It is a great plant for moist and even boggy locations, pond or stream edges.
It blooms best in full sun, but appreciates some shade in hotter areas. Keep crowns free of debris in winter. Cardinal Flower may not be long-lived perennial, but it will self-sow where happy.
Characteristics
- Common Names: Cardinal Flower
- Zones: 3-9
- Light Requirements: Full Sun to Light Shade
- Soil Preference: Prefers moist to wet soils
- Height at Maturity: 36-48
- Width at Maturity: 12-24
- Bloom Color: Red
- Bloom Time: Middle summer to early fall
- Foliage Color: Green
Special Features
- Attracts: Butterflies. Hummingbirds.
- Tolerates: Deer. Rabbits. Clay Soil. Coastal Conditions.
- Other Features: Native to North America.
Care and Growing Tips
Check out our blog for more gardening tips!
Shipping Info
IMPORTANT: We are at capacity for shipping the week of 4/22. All new orders will be shipped the week of 4/29 (or later, if your Zone has not started shipping in the list below).
We have a huge amount of orders to get through, so we appreciate your patience while we work extra hard to make this happen. Thank you!
All orders placed now will ship in Spring 2024 unless requested otherwise.
- Zones 10-7: Already started
- Zone 6: Starting April 22nd
- Zone 5: Starting May 6th
- Zones 4-2: Starting May 13th
If you wish to receive your plants earlier than what's on this schedule, please send us an email after you place the order. Please note that we only ship on Mondays and Tuesdays for the safety of the plants in transit.
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We ship via UPS or USPS (the Post Office), and their ship rates are automatically generated through our site. We do not profit on shipping costs. We are working with these providers to get our customers the best rates possible.
All ship times are subject to change if extreme weather conditions are present here at the nursery or at the shipping destination.
Please note: Depending on the time of year, the foliage of the plants may be trimmed to fit into our shipping boxes. This could delay the flowering of the plant, but many perennials actually benefit from being cut back.
We are currently not able to ship to Puerto Rico, Hawaii, and outside of the US.