Cardinal Flower - Lobelia cardinalis with Jewel Weed Impatiens Capensis

Cardinal Flower Habitat

A week ago I posted a picture of a Cardinal Flower and said I don’t often see it in the wild.  Today I stumbled on Cardinal Flower several times.

Here in Connecticut, USDA Hardiness Zone 6a, Cardinal Flower is in full bloom.  You’ll spot it on the edge of streams where the soil is consistently moist.  Cardinal Flower tolerates brief flooding.  We’ve had so much rain this year it must tolerate brief flooding.

Cardinal Flower will not tolerate is dry soil.  If Cardinal Flower dries out it’s going to disappear from your garden forever.

Today at Putnam Memorial State Park I spotted a grouping of Cardinal Flower on the edge of a pond.  It was growing just off of the edge of the water.  The grouping to the left is in the stream that feeds the pond.

Cardinal Flower - Lobelia cardinalis Grouping

I also found some growing on the edge of a culvert.  Cardinal Flower is tough as nails when growing in its preferred moist place.

Cardinal Flower - Lobelia cardinalis in culvert

If you’re going to plant Cardinal Flower remember the Cardinal Rule:

Plant Cardinal Flower ONLY where the ground remains moist year round.  Cardinal Flower loves to grow right on the edge of streams almost touching the water.

Happy gardening!

 


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