Cardinal Flower - Lobelia cardinalis - Starter Plug
IMPORTANT PICKUP INFORMATION
THIS ITEM IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP ON APRIL 25, 2026, FROM 9:30 AM TO 12:30 PM AT GREENVALE VINEYARDS, PORTSMOUTH, RHODE ISLAND.
There is no delivery option for your seedling pre-order. You must pick up your plant yourself on the seedling sale date. Any seedlings not picked up will be considered a donation to ERICD's educational farm program.
What You'll Receive:
One (1) Cardinal Flower starter plug - a young, healthy plant with an established root system, ready to transplant into your garden and thrive for years to come.
Why You'll Love Cardinal Flower:
It is impossible not to do a double take when you spot a Cardinal Flower in bloom during the heat of summer. Its vivid red is so conspicuous it hardly seems possible nature could produce a color that intense.
This stunning native perennial produces an unbranched central stem topped with a flowering spike that can reach up to 2 feet long, bringing the plant's total height to 3-4 feet. The tubular, intensely red flowers (up to 1½" long) create a dramatic vertical display that lasts about 6 weeks from late summer to early fall—a true showstopper when many other garden plants are fading.
The plant features deep-green, lance-shaped, coarsely serrated leaves up to 6" long that form an attractive basal rosette, making it beautiful even when not in bloom.
Plant Specifications:
Light Requirements: Full sun, part-sun, or part-shade
Soil Moisture: Moist to wet
Soil Type: Highly adaptable - thrives in acid, neutral, or alkaline soil; rich loam, clay, or sand
Mature Height: 2'-5'
Bloom Time: July, August, September
Bloom Color: Vivid, intense red
Hardiness Zones: 3-9
Rhode Island Zone: 5
Massachusetts Zones: 5, 6
Growing & Care:
Cardinal Flower is remarkably adaptable with just one key requirement: don't let the soil dry out for extended periods. It thrives equally well in full sun (minimum 6 hours) or part-shade (as little as 2 hours of direct sun), though sunnier locations will require more consistent watering.
Important Growing Note: This plant has a unique life cycle—individual plants die back after blooming but produce offshoots that ensure perennial growth. Avoid heavy mulching at the base in fall and don't let excessive leaf litter accumulate, as the offshoots need exposure to survive and regenerate.
Ideal Locations:
- Water features and pond edges
- Rain gardens
- Perennial borders
- Woodland gardens
- Any area with consistent moisture
Wildlife Benefits:
🦋 Butterfly magnet
🐦 Hummingbird favorite
🦌 Moderately deer-resistant
Native Plant Excellence:
Cardinal Flower is a spectacular native perennial that supports local pollinators while creating unforgettable visual impact in your garden. Its brilliant red blooms provide essential nectar during the crucial late-summer period when many other food sources have diminished.