The Red Cardinal Flower is an American wildflower native to the midwestern region, including Michigan and Wisconsin. Lobelia blooms are tall perennials that flourish in USDA hardy planting zones 1 through 10.
Red Cardinal Flower's Appearance
Tall spikes of splendid red, trumpet-formed blooms transcend the dull green foliage. Each bloom has three spreading lower petals and two upper petals assembled into a tube at the base. Erect verdant stems, frequently in groups, with racemes of blossoms looking like flaring red spires. They add a beautiful, bright touch of color to any landscape or floral garden. They are deer and rabbit-resistant yet attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds.
Red Cardinal Flower's Bloom
Developing cardinal blossoms sprout amid summer and, in some cases, into fall. Many insects have a hard time following the long necks of Red Cardinal Flower, so cardinal blossoms rely upon hummingbirds for preparation. Cardinal blossoms develop best in areas with morning sun and evening shade, aside from cool zones requiring full sun. They also require clammy, ripe soil and perform best, considering organic matter is incorporated into the dirt before planting.
Planting Red Cardinal Flower
The mature height of the Red Cardinal Flower is typically 24 to 48 inches. The seeds must be planted indoors 8 to 10 weeks before the late frost in delinquent winter. You can transfer the blossom seedlings outside four weeks after you planted them in the fitting plate, picking a zone with full sun or incomplete shade and rich, loamy, and ideally wet soil. For best results, place a 2-to 3-inch layer of natural mulch around the blossoms and water consistently, keeping the dirt continually sodden for the bloom amid the developing season. The bloom is not dry-season tolerant and performs best with continuously wet soil.