Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) basking in a pocket of sunshine near the Reedy River.
Wordless Wednesday–August 6, 2014–Stop in the Name of Love(belia)
Hortitopia
A region, a garden, a frame of mind…
Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) basking in a pocket of sunshine near the Reedy River.
Hortitopia 
I do love lobelia…particularly great blue lobelia. I would love to invite you to participate in a twist on Wordless Wednesday that I started today. Since we are both local Greenvillians (?) it might be fun to compare notes! ~Julie
Julie–how did you know? Watching is what I do best!
I love this plant – you can’t beat the clarity and purity of that red. Such a great hummingbird plant, also. Sadly it does not like my garden.
Jason–I bought the plant last year at a local native plant sale and it has taken off. The riverbank is the perfect place for it. My one summer bloom!
Beautiful Marian. I’ve not had luck with this in my garden but perhaps it’s just not damp enough.
Susie–To tell you the truth, I saw it growing wild in a neighbor’s yard near the river, so thought it would do for me too if I could find a sun pocket. Sadly, the place where I saw the plant last year has now been washed away by heavy rains.
I have a 10 gallon pvc tub buried in the ground to its lip, surrounded by pine needle mulch so it is hidden …and in that I have a planting of Cardinal flower. I counted 37-38 blooming stalks. Looks pretty good. They are right about reaching peak now here in NC. Even with no drain holes….it got so dry this year, I had to water it about 3 or 4 times! The first time…it was COMPLETELY dry..the stalks had wilted…that was a few weeks before it started blooming.
Norman–Lucky you! I think I have 6 or 7 stalks. The pvc tub is an excellent idea. Do you grow other plants that way?