Cardinal Flower

Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
(low-BEE-lee-uh) (kar-dih-NAL-iss)

It was nice to see the patch of Cardinal Flower still standing tall after the hurricane. The color is amazing on this perennial and I feel after years of referring to this plant as a biennial it is safe to call it a perennial. This plant has returned for its third year now. Cardinal Flower is best in the back of the border since it is a tall flower. It can take moist conditions and likes full sun.

This picture shows a little of the Hurricane Irene damage and the long road to recovery from the storm. We will be cleaning up for years. Close call for that van!



This is the plant list getting delivered for the new garden today. It is very exciting. There are still several items we are looking for but this will get us started.

5 Oriental Spruce (Picea Orientalis) 8-10 feet

17 Knockout Rose 3 gallon pot

1 Fastigiate Japanese Plum Yew (Cephalotaxus h. 'Fastigiata’) 10 gallon

2 Spreading Japanese Plum Yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia var. drupacea) 3 gallon

1 Dwarf White Pine (Pinus strobus ‘Nana’)

1 Mellow Yellow Spirea (Spiraea thunbergii 'Ogon') 2 gallon

3 Flaming Silver Pieris (Pieris japonica 'Flaming Silver') 3 gallon

3 Lo and Behold Dwarf Butterfly Bush (Buddleia hybrid) 3 gallon

6 Variegated Japanese Iris (Iris ensata ‘Variegata’)

2 Sheffield Hybrid Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum koreanum 'Sheffield' 1 gallon

3 Starshine Aster (Aster ageratoides ‘Starshine’) 1 gallon

3 Purple Dome Aster (Aster novae-angliae 'Purple Dome') 1 gallon

Pink Cardinal Flower

Pink Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
(low-BEE-lee-a)

This variation on the traditional red Cardinal Flower was blooming at a local nursery. It was quite beautiful and interesting because I didn’t remember seeing the pink type before. It probably had a name for the variety but I didn’t record it and research shows there are several pink types available now.

Cardinal Flowers are useful in the border and around the pond as they can tolerate quite wet conditions. They like a rich soil but can grow in lean soil if enough moisture is present. They are generally short lived only lasting 1 to 3 years but if the conditions are right will self-seed. If you mulch before winter that can sometimes help extend their lives. This flower is very good at attracting Hummingbirds and is a must for Hummingbird gardens.

Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)

Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
(low-BEE-lee-uh) (sigh-fy-LY-tih-kuh)
Lobeliaceae
Synonyms: High Belia, Louisiana Lobelia, Blue Cardinal Flower

I bought one pot of this plant 20 years ago at a plant sale and have been battling it ever since. It is a beautiful color blue but I have had problems with it seeding too much. I finally have contained it to a small area of the island garden and have actually grown to like it. I am not sure if it is a short lived perennial or a biennial but the seedlings seem to flower the first year. It grows fairly tall (up to 3 feet) and is hardy to USDA Zone 5, at least with reports of it surviving in Zone 3. All in all I guess I would recommend it but not for the real tidy garden. More for a moist to wet area that you want a bit more of a wild appearance. I think it would look wonderful in a mass planting. This Eastern United States native likes a little shade in hot areas.



There seems to be a little variation in the color of the flower. Mine are this rich blue but there are purple and white versions. This plant’s species name, siphilitica, refers to its use by early Americans as a treatment for venereal disease.

The work never seems to stop in Manhattan.