Feature Article Lobelia cardinalis

By HummingbirdDorothy G. Swift Magnet

ardinal flower, the common the red flowers. I had tried various begin attracting hummers to the patio Cname for Lobelia cardinalis, is native hummingbird feeders, but found it a prior to the appearance of cardinal all over the Northeast. In early July, its hassle to keep the sugar solution fresh flower blossoms. My favorite salvia bright red flowers come into bloom on and to keep out insects and mold. is ‘Mulberry Jam’ (not hardy), with a vertical stalk and last for a number of I decided to just have more cardinal early bright pink flowers that attract weeks into late summer. L. cardinalis flower plants to supply hummingbird hummingbirds. I plant it in several is not at all a rare plant, but the places food. The cardinal flowers seed places near the L. cardinalis plants. where it occurs in natural stands are themselves modestly around my Tall salvias are important because becoming fewer due to loss of habitat. garden, so I moved seedlings to places cardinal flower spikes are tall, and the In my own region in Rhode Island, it in the sun and close to the patio, as hummers go most easily to flowers establishes and seeds itself in the wild well as further away—substantial that are up in the air, rather than near in wet areas that have excellent sun groupings in numerous places near ground level. A cardinal flower plant exposure. It might be at the edge of a outdoor living space and in view of in its first year might have a flowering woodland, in a ditch next to a road, or windows. stalk about 20" high; in the second in a wet meadow with a lot of sur- My prime place for hummingbirds year it might be 2–3', and, after that, rounding herbaceous plants and a few is adjacent to the patio where multiple 4' or taller. There will be multiple shrubs. It can, however, grow happily mature cardinal flower plants, placed flowering spikes after the first year. in sunny spots and in profusion on between shrubs and perennials in Once hummers come to a location your property and will flourish in good two beds, edge the patio. Because for flowers on taller stems, they may garden soil that is kept watered during cardinal flowers do not bloom until notice lower growing flowers nearby dry periods. This is contrary to recom- July, each year in May or June, I buy or even flowers in nearby containers. mendations in literature, which advise several plants of taller (3–4' stems) In the two beds bordering the patio, a shady wet location. After I had Salvia selections with bright pink, I now have many cardinal flowers. observed that hummingbirds were at- red, and purple flowers. The salvias I can sit on the patio and watch a tracted to the bright red cardinal flow- bloom earlier (and also later) and hummingbird come to sample flower ers, I made extensive modifications in after flower several feet away. parts of my garden. (If a second hummer arrives, My plants of cardinal flower they compete and one chases the are all seed-grown, originating from other—with the result that both a wild population in my town that fly away). grew in a wet area close to a road. In a second garden bed (Unfortunately, road “improvements” across a small stretch of lawn, have almost eliminated the cardinal I have more red cardinal flowers. flowers at that site.) I first grew it This has been the site for some in a shaded area far from the house, innovation. Several of the following information from books. pink hybrid Lobelia ‘Monet But when I had some extra plants, Moment’ are growing there. A Bed on edge of patio. Several large clumps of I put three plants within view of the Lobelia cardinalis with their tall flowering spikes. few Lobelia siphilitica showed patio. I was elated when I saw that Between the clumps are a rhododendron and a up there on their own. These hummingbirds were attracted to tree peony with forget-me-nots at the edge. normally have blue flowers,

Vol. 27, No. 6 Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group 3 but white flowering ones are not purple. Some of these colorful hybrid uncommon. Lobelia siphilitica doesn’t lobelia can be found in the named attract hummingbirds, so I allow Compliment or Fan series. They only a few of them to remain in that are fine to look at, and a beautiful bed. In full summer bloom with lots addition to a garden bed, just like the of red cardinal flower in this bed, pale pink naturally occurring Lobelia there is additional color from the seedling that I mentioned above. pink L. ‘Monet Moment’ and Phlox However, I doubt whether any hybrid paniculata, white flower spikes of Lobelia plant is going to be as good Veronicastrum virginicum, plus the at attracting hummingbirds as just blue and white L. siphilitica. The mix plain L. cardinalis. I don’t find seed of colors is an aesthetic enhancement so readily produced on these named Bed on edge of patio, with a view to that garden bed, however, straight-on of Lobelia cardinalis with selections. hummingbirds seem to prefer the red their flowering spikes. A recent author mentioned buying cardinal flower blossoms. As a result great quantities of sugar to feed what areas offer better growing conditions. of having the collection of Lobelia she referred to as the “hummingpigs” In hotter climates, shade might be species and selections near one (G. Roth, Lost and Found: Unexpected more important. L. cardinalis has wide another, an occasional pale pink or Revelations about Food and Money, distribution from the Northeast into almost white flowering seedling will Viking, 2011). I like that expression! the Midwest and the South and West. grow and bloom. But I think that it is far easier to It is likely that genetic differences Lobelia cardinalis is sometimes grow cardinal flowers to attract occur in plants from different eco- described as being short-lived in hummingpigs. You can find plants at regions as a result of long-term perennial gardens. However, I have many nurseries or you can acquire genetic acclimation to differences in found that plants survive for many seed from the HPS Seed Exchange or temperature, moisture, and soil type. years. The species does seed itself, commercial sources. In Rhode Island, the sunny locations so you have a ready source of new Lobelia cardinalis grows easily that I describe have open sky above, plants if you do not deadhead. The from seed. You can readily collect but there are trees and a house nearby number of self-sown seedlings will large quantities of seed from cardinal that provide shade during some hours depend upon the extent to which the flower plants. Check for the round and also protection from excess wind garden conditions are suitable for seed seedpods to be dry, and check that and sun. The garden beds have other germination. (Exposed soil is more a pod is ready to release a number perennial plants and rhododendrons, favorable than bark-mulched beds, but of small seeds. (Seedpods at the so they are watered regularly. In the my stone-mulched rock garden seems bottom of the stalk might be mature wild, you don’t see L. cardinalis to be excellent also). I should warn when flower buds at the top are just plants growing in open, sunny that L. siphilitica is more than likely to fields—conditions whereAsclepias appear in your garden as well, and it tuberosa (butterfly weed) might seeds itself more prolifically. You have flourish—but only in areas that to identify plants of the two species in might be wet fields or ditches order to maintain mostly L. cardinalis with some moisture in summer. to attract hummers. (It takes careful Incidentally, hummingbirds do go study to differentiate between to butterfly weed and tall garden L. siphilitica and L. cardinalis plants phlox also, but the bloom period when they are not in bloom, but there for these is shorter than that of are differences in leaf shape and color cardinal flower. and in plant habit). L. cardinalis that Plant breeders have used is in shady areas of my garden will L. cardinalis, L. siphilitica, and survive but not thrive, so sun is a key Mix of lobelia plants in bed beyond lawn. a couple of more tender species feature for good growth and flowering. On the left and center are wild-type Lobelia to come up with plants that have Nor have I observed hummingbirds cardinalis (bright red flowers). Three flower flowers other than bright red, spikes in the center are very light pink, almost at the plants in the shade. There may white, or blue, including pale white. This is a seedling that planted itself. be more root competition in shaded pink, rose, salmon, burgundy, deep On the right are 3 or 4 stalks of Lobelia areas, and my sunny watered garden 'Monet Moment' which has bright pink flowers. 4 Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group November 2013 opening). I shake the seed stalks over the plants have healthy true leaves, a white paper. Then I break open transplant to individual or community individual pods if I want even more pots. Seed is viable for several years, seed. No cold period is required, so just keep it refrigerated. you can start seed at any time indoors It is no secret that hummingbirds under lights or in indirect light or in like cardinal flower.I am amazed that a greenhouse, using any germination I see so few cardinal flowers growing mix or even a growing mix. Avoid in gardens where both the plants and mixes with large pieces of bark or the birds would be appreciated. My moisture-retention gels at this stage. goal is to help remedy that, so, for Moisten the mix until it holds together your viewing pleasure, plant LOTS of Rhode Island Wild Plant Society and received easily. Sow the seed sparsely, and cardinal flower! its Lifetime Service Award in 2006. She heads do not cover with the mix. (It needs a propagation group called Seed Starters East, which grows plants for the Society’s native plant light to germinate). Mist with water. sales. In 2012, she received the New England ® Store in a Ziploc bag and mist as Wild Flower Society’s State Award for Rhode needed until germination occurs. Or Island. The award recognized her work in plant Dorothy G. Swift, Ph.D., is a former propagation and writing for the RI Wild Plant use a prepared food container with oceanography researcher who currently teaches Society. some holes drilled in the bottom and microbiology in a community college. Gardening is a longtime serious hobby that occasionally Ed Note: The photos in this article are courtesy of the a translucent top as your moisture- author. Clip art from FreeClipartNow.com. For a full- overlaps with jobs (teaching botany, working in color version of this article, go to the HPS/MAG web retentive planting container. When a plant tissue culture lab). She is active in the site, www.hardyplant.org.

Vol. 27, No. 6 Hardy Plant Society/Mid-Atlantic Group 5