Cardinal Flower (Indian Pink)
Lobelia cardinalis. CAMPANULACEAE (LOBELIACEAE).
Planting and Growing Cardinal Flower
You’ll find everything you need to know to plant and grow cardinal flower in the accompanying table’s tabs:
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- Flowers, foliage, and root structure of cardinal flower
- Plant hardiness and growing conditions for cardinal flower
- Season of bloom and planting time for cardinal flower
- When, how deep, and where to plant cardinal flower
- How to plant cardinal flower
- Watering, fertilizing, care, and pests or diseases of cardinal flower
- Landscape and container uses of cardinal flower
- Comments about cardinal flower and its features
Growing Cardinal Flower
Many hybrids and cultivars of upright, narrow, deciduous perennial herbs, 2–4 ft. (60–120 cm) tall, 1 ft. (30 cm) wide. Shiny, medium to deep green, oval to lance-shaped, finely toothed leaves, to 4 in. (10 cm) long.
See also Edging Lobelia, Lobelia erinus.
Planting and Care Guide
Blooms
Many mostly deep red, sometimes pink, white, spirelike, 5-petaled flowers, 1–1‑1/2‑in. (25–38‑mm) wide, with drooping, honeysuckle-like bracts and prominent anthers, in showy, spiking clusters, in late summer–autumn.
Best Climates
Hardy. Self-seeding. Zones 2–10.
Soil Type and Fertility
Moist, well-drained humus or, in water features, shallow-depth marginal or shoreline sites. Fertility: Rich. 6.5–7.5 pH.
Where and How to Plant
Spring in full to filtered sun, 1 ft. (30 cm) apart, after frost hazard has passed.
Proper Care
Moderate–challenging. Keep evenly moist. Fertilize annually in spring. Mulch. Propagate by cuttings, division, seed.
About This Plant
Good choice for backgrounds, beds, borders, edgings in cottage, natural, woodland gardens and water feature shorelines. Pest and disease resistant.