Flutterjoy™ 'Neon Nights' Cardinal Flower (Lobelia)
Perennial
- Fuchsia blooms with dramatic bronze-purple foliage!
- Great for adding native interest to rain gardens.
- Deer-resistant, native, & loved by hummingbirds.
- Tough perennial thrives in wet, hard-to-grow soil sites.
- Zones 6-10, sun/part sun, 38-44” tall x 18-24” wide at maturity.
ZONE
EXPOSURE
HEIGHT
Description
Cardinal flower (Lobelia) is a popular native perennial commonly found growing along damp woodland areas throughout North America, with tall flower spires covered in brightly colored blooms. A favorite among home gardeners and professional landscapers, cardinal flower is prized for its deer resistance and ability to thrive in wet, tough-to-grow soil sites. This perennial is also a well-known favorite of hummingbirds, who are attracted to the tubular blooms like a magnet. It’s great for adding native interest in rain gardens or boggy soil sites, or to enjoy the beautiful flowers!
Details
Common name: Cardinal flower, hybrid Lobelia
Zone: 6-10
Sun exposure: Sun (6+ hours sun) to part sun (4-6 hours sun).
Height x width: 38-44″ X 18-24”
Flower color: Fuschia, pink,
Foliage color: Green, purple
Season of interest: Midsummer to early fall.
Bloom time: Mid to late summer.
Features: Wet soils, rain gardens, native, low flammability, heat-tolerant, drought-tolerant, deer-resistant, pollinator-friendly, low-maintenance
Uses: Rock gardens, container gardening, edging, rock garden, small spaces, bog plant, rain gardens, border plant, mass planting, pollinator gardens
How to Grow
Light: Performs best in full to part sun.
Water: Medium to moist.
Spacing: Minimum 18” inches apart.
Fertilizing: Spring is the best time to fertilize the plants if necessary. Lightly apply an all-purpose garden fertilizer.
Winterizing: Mulch is recommended. If desired, cut back the plant in spring to help protects roots in winter.
Maintenance & pruning: Deadhead spent blooms to enhance the overall appearance and promote reblooming.
Plant spacing is based on the ultimate width of the plants. This figure is normally given as a range; for example, 3-5’. If you live in a cold climate and/or want plants to fill in more quickly, plan to space at the shorter end of the range. If you live in a warm climate, are on a limited budget, or are willing to wait longer for plants to touch, use the higher end of the range. Using the larger number is recommended when calculating distance from a building or structure. There’s really no such thing as "maximum spacing": if you don’t want your plants to touch, you can space them as far apart as you’d like. All plant spacing is calculated on center, or in other words, the centers of the plants are spaced one half of their eventual width apart:
Unless you are planting in a straight line, as you might for hedges or edging, space your plants in a staggered or zig-zag pattern for a more interesting and naturalistic look:
Not sure just how many plants will fit in your garden? Our calculator gives you the exact amount of plants required for your space. Simply update the values and the calculator will re-calculate accordingly. Spacing information can be found in the 'How to Grow' tab on each plant's page.