This plant can be submerged in water, planted along a water edge or can grow in a regularly watered flower bed. It grows 3 feet tall and does best in sun or partial shade. It is hardy to about 25 degrees F.

Lobelia cardinalis is a widespread species found growing naturally from southeastern Canada south through the eastern and southwestern United States, Mexico and Central America to northern Colombia where it is often found in damp or shaded forests. The genus is named for Mathias de L'Obel (latinized to Matthaeus Lobelius) (1538 –1616), a Belgian botanist and physician to the royal families of the Netherlands (William the Silent, Prince of Orange) and England (King James I). The specific epithet is thought to be a reference to the similarity of the flower's color to the vesture of Roman Catholic Cardinals

We grew this attractive plant, listing it as Lobelia fulgens, a name now considered to be a synonym (fulgens means "brilliant" or "bright-colored"), as part of our water plant program from 1996 to 2015. 

The information displayed on this page about Lobelia cardinalis is based on our research conducted about this plant from books in our nursery library as well as from information that is provided by reliable online resources. We also have included our own observations made about it as it grew in the nursery gardens and other gardens visited, as well how the crops of this plant performed in the containers when we had them in our nursery field. We also include comments received from others and welcome hearing from anyone who has information about this plant, particularly if it includes cultural information aiding others to better grow it.