Cardinal flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Cardinal flower
- Stem plant with roundish leaves
- Medium fast growth
- No high demands
- In the terrestrial form with splendid flowers
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Description
The Cardinal flower is actually a tall perennial with striking red flowers. However, it can also form an underwater form and is a classic among aquarium plants. Lobelia cardinalis is native to a wide area from southeastern Canada and the USA through Central America to northern South America (Colombia), where it grows in damp to swampy locations. Its tubular flowers appear in late summer and are visited by hummingbirds.
In its underwater form, this lobelia is a compact stem plant. The stem, which is up to around 7 mm thick, is densely covered with elliptical leaves that are 5 to 10 cm long and 2 to 2.7 cm wide with a petiole. While the leaves are rather dark green or reddish in the terrestrial form, the submerged plant has light to medium green leaves. The individual shoots grow to around 10-30 cm high and 5-16 cm wide.
Lobelia cardinalis does not have high requirements and also thrives in cold water tanks, but at least medium light intensity and an open position are recommended. Like other stem plants, it is propagated by cuttings. After cutting off the tip, the stem forms many side shoots.
Lobelia cardinalis looks best in dense groups and is traditionally used for Dutch-style "plant streets". However, single stems can also be decorative if they have branched out strongly after pruning.
This North American marsh plant can also be used emersed in open, shallow pools. It then grows much taller than in the underwater form and develops its magnificent cardinal red flowers. The leaves have a purple underside in the terrestrial form. The Cardinal flower can also be cultivated outdoors in moist garden soil, where it can even survive mild winters.
Lobelia cardinalis, the cardinal flower, is a true American, a native plant originally found in the eastern and central regions of the United States on moist ground alongside rivulets, ponds and road ditches. Its emersed form sports green leaves with a purple underside and attractive scarlet bell-shaped flowers, which make it a very popular and beautiful ornamental plant in its land of origin. The submersed plant is of a light green, though. L. cardinalis has been used for Dutch-style aquaria for a long time, and is quite widely spread in trade.
L. cardinalis is an easy plant to care for. Lighting should be moderate at least, whereas higher wattage results in more compact, lusher growth. CO2 injection is not necessary, but still recommendable for strong healthy growth. Regular doses of liquid fertiliser are a means to determine the plant's overall size. (read more)
| Common names | Cardinal flower |
| Synonyms | Lobelia fulgens Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd., Lobelia graminea Lam., Lobelia splendens Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd. |
| Complete botanical name | Lobélia cardinális L. |
| Family | Campanulaceae |
| Genus | Lobelia |
| Difficulty | easy |
| Usage | Midground, Foreground, group |
| Growth | slow |
| pH value | 6 - 7 |
| Temperature tolerance | 4 - 30°C |
| Carbonate hardness | 2 - 14°dKH |
| General hardness | 0 - 30°dGH |
| Propagation | Cuttings |
| Can grow emersed? | yes |
| Source | Flowgrow |
| Common names |
| Cardinal flower |
| Synonyms |
| Lobelia fulgens Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd., Lobelia graminea Lam., Lobelia splendens Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd. |
| Complete botanical name |
| Lobélia cardinális L. |
| Family |
| Campanulaceae |
| Genus |
| Lobelia |
| Difficulty |
| easy |
| Usage |
| Midground, Foreground, group |
| Growth |
| slow |
| pH value |
| 6 - 7 |
| Temperature tolerance |
| 4 - 30°C |
| Carbonate hardness |
| 2 - 14°dKH |
| General hardness |
| 0 - 30°dGH |
| Propagation |
| Cuttings |
| Can grow emersed? |
| yes |
| Source |
| Flowgrow |
How many plants do I need?
General information
| Item no. |
|
| EAN | |
| Weight | 0,11 kg |
| Shipping weight | 0,20 kg |
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