Cardinal Flower

Cardinal Flower (Lobelia Cardinalis) - The true plant is one of the rarest and one of the prettiest of the genus. The brilliant effect produced in autumn by tufts of this species well repays any trouble it may give, for though by no means fastidious, the difficulty of growing it well in small gardens in the absence of shade and moisture is great. It is a bog-loving plant, being found in wet ground in N. America. It is, however, a true perennial, although maybe a short-lived one, and should be frequently raised from seed to make sure of keeping up the stock. This species is not so liable to disease as L. splendens and its varieties. Grown on an ordinary border it invariably has a weak, stunted appearance; but in a free rich soil, in a shady position and well supplied with moisture, I have often seen it 3 to 4 1/2 feet high and flowering profusely. The flowers are of the most vivid scarlet, and as they last a long time in bloom it well deserves care. Dr Gray mentions it as varying to rose color and even white, but this, it seems, is rare. Parkinson mentions it as "cherished in our garden in 1629," and gives it as "growing near the river of Canada where the French plantation in America is seated." It is hardier than L. fulgens, living through the winter in open beds and with little or no protection. Its leaves are shorter and greener than those of L. fulgens; the flowers, too, are smaller, but more numerous on the spikes.

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• Category:Perennials