Part of a 26 inch long Intense red flowering spike of Lobelia cardinalis.
Lobelia cardinalis L.
Commonly known as cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis with brilliant red flower spikes lift the late summer garden like no other plant. This moisture loving, native plant of the Americas is found near water source in part shade to full sun conditions in its wild habitat. In my garden, it tolerates both dry and wet soil sites. One difference is that the plants in the dry sites tend to have shorter height and flower spikes.
L. cardinals is surely an aesthetic delight but it is also a ruby-throated hummingbird magnet. Occasionally larger bumble bees and spicebush swallowtails do venture into the tubular corolla to steal the nectar but leave the job of pollination to the hummingbirds. Flowering right after the last of the monarda species (bee balm), L. cardinalis blooms from late July all the way through early September. Together with the monarda spp., L. cardinalis provides a seamless flow of nectar for ruby-throated hummingbirds.
A bumblebee on Lobelia cardinalis does not pollinate the flower but enjoys the nectar.
Usually constantly in motion, darting from one cardinal flower spike to another, this ruby-throated hummingbird rests on the dead foliage of a day lily guarding the nectar source.
Although, perennial, L. cardinalis can be short lived especially if it lacks water. It germinates easily when seeds are directly sown in the soil in late fall. Be patient, seedlings take time to grow. Transfer the seedlings the next fall if necessary.
Seedlings of Lobelia cardinalis sown directly into the soil last fall.