Lobelia is a genus in the campanula family comprising almost 400 species that are distributed worldwide. Some Lobelia species are great native plants for both woodland gardens and full sun borders. Lobelia prefers damp soils and in the wild is often seen growing in swamps. The flowering stalks of Lobelia arise from flat green winter rosettes and provide rich jewel tones of red, pink, blue and more. Lobelia flowers generally begin forming in midsummer on tall stalks and may last into the early fall. Be sure not to cover your Lobelia rosettes with mulch in winter. Hummingbirds and butterflies love Lobelia flowers, particularly the red ones.
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According to the Victorian practice of floriography or "language of flowers", sending a floral arrangement of lobelia was a sign of malevolence or ill will. Perhaps that was tied to one of the traditional herbal uses of lobelia which was to induce vomiting. When you're ready to buy lobelia (cardinal flower) for your perennial garden, we hope you'll check out our online offering of lobelia for sale below.
Since 1988, Plant Delights Nursery has been the choice of serious gardeners and plant collectors looking for the best and rarest perennial plants. We are pleased to have received the Perennial Plant Association Retail Award in 2011, the American Horticulture Society Commercial Award in 2002, and to have been selected as one of the Best Mail Order Plant Sources - Garden Design Magazine 2010. Welcome to our family of plant lovers!
This cute little groundcover we've been growing has been moonlighting as a Chinese herbal vitamin supplement. We're not exactly sure what it does for you, but one catalog says, "Lobelia chinensis can help give you that little extra boost that will help you to achieve this state of being." Sorry, but our plants have not been approved by the FDA, FCC, or Michael Jackson's lawyers. For us, it makes a darling groundcover of tiny leaves, topped all summer with miniature pink, lobelia-like flowers...a hummingbird treat. Lobelia chinensis seems to perform equally as well in moist or dry soils. It does spread nicely (3' in a year), so don't put it too close to choice gems that can't run fast enough to get away. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
This is one of the most exciting of the new cardinal flowers to hit the market in years...all thanks to master lobelia breeder, Thurman Maness of Pittsboro, NC. Lobelia 'Monet Moment' boasts massive heads of exquisite, large, rich pink-violet flowers (RHS 59C). The flowers adorn the tops of the 3' tall stems beginning in early August, continuing for 3-5 weeks for an extended "Monet Moment"...a hummingbird haven. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
Forget what you know about lobelias and you'll be ready for Lobelia 'Candy Corn'. This unidentified Mexican species (possibly a sister genus Siphocampylus) makes a truly unique perennial, with tall stalks to 5'+, clothed with dark green leaves against the purple stems. Starting in late spring, the upper stalks are adorned with candy corn-like flowers of bright orange, ending with a reflexed yellow tip...very cool! A hummingbird favorite. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
This stunning hybrid (Lobelia cardinalis x Lobelia siphilitica x Lobelia fulgens) tetraploid seed strain from Germany's Benary Seed Company has large, velvety, wine-red (RHS 61A) flowers with a satiny finish that are absolutely scrumptious on a multitude of 3' tall vertical stalks...a hummingbird delight. From late summer, Lobelia 'Compliment Deep Red' is adorned with an incredible floral display that lasts into early fall...a sock-knocker-offer! Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
Since 2003, we have enjoyed this adaptable and easy-to-grow cardinal flower from the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range (Southern Arizona south into northern Mexico). Lobelia laxiflora is one of those rare plants that grows equally as well on the West Coast as it does on the East Coast. The slowly-spreading patches can reach 5' wide in 8 years, composed of 2' tall, semi-lax stems, clothed in 5" long pencil-thin green leaves and adorned starting in early May (NC) with candy corn-like tubular red and yellow banded flowers...a hummingbird favorite. As long as the soils are well drained, we have found that both wet and bone dry soils are both equally acceptable for growing Lobelia laxiflora var. angustifolia. Pot Size: 24 fl. oz (709.77 ml)
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