Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
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Cardinal Flower - #1 Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
Plant Sentry™
Plant Sentry™
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Your order is protected by our compliance system that:
- Prevents restricted plants from shipping to your state
- Ensures plants meet your state's agricultural requirements
- Protects gardens from invasive pests and diseases
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Delivery and Shipping
Fast, Safe Plant Delivery
Ships in 3-4 business days • Tracking provided • Weather protected
| Under $50 | $9.99 |
| $50 - $99.99 | $14.99 |
| $100 - $149.99 | $16.99 |
| $150+ | $24.99 |
✓ Zone-specific timing • ✓ Professional packaging • ✓ Health guarantee
Understanding Plant Options
Nature Hills offers plants in two main formats:
- Container Plants: Grown in pots with soil, sized by container volume and plant age
- Bare Root Plants: Dormant plants without soil, sized by height measurements
Container Plant Sizes
Container sizes indicate plant age and growing capacity rather than liquid volume equivalents. Our containers follow industry-standard nursery "trade gallon" specifications, which differ from standard liquid gallon measurements.
Young Plants (6 months to 18 months old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2" x 2" x 3" | 0.18 - 0.21 dry quarts | 0.20 - 0.23 dry liters |
| 4" Container | 0.31 - 0.87 dry quarts | 0.35 - 0.96 dry liters |
| 4.5" Container | 0.65 dry quarts | 0.72 dry liters |
| 6" Container | 1.4 dry quarts | 1.59 dry liters |
| 1 Quart | 1 dry quart | 1.1 dry liters |
| 5.5" Container | 1.89 dry quarts | 2.08 dry liters |
Established Plants (18 months to 2.5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Quart | 2 dry quarts | 2.2 dry liters |
| #1 Container | 2.26 - 3.73 dry quarts | 2.49 - 4.11 dry liters |
| 5" x 5" x 12" | 3.5 - 4.3 dry quarts | 3.85 - 4.74 dry liters |
Mature Plants (2-4 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #2 Container | 1.19 - 1.76 dry gallons | 5.24 - 7.75 dry liters |
| #3 Container | 2.15 - 2.76 dry gallons | 8.14 - 12.16 dry liters |
Large Plants (3-5 years old)
| Container Size | Actual Volume | Metric Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| #5 Container | 2.92 - 4.62 dry gallons | 12.86 - 20.35 dry liters |
| #6 Container | 5.25 - 6.01 dry gallons | 23.12 - 26.42 dry liters |
| #7 Container | 5.98 - 6.53 dry gallons | 26.34 - 28.76 dry liters |
Bare Root Plants
Bare root plants are sold by height from the root system to the top of the plant. Plants may exceed minimum height requirements.
Common Sizes:
- Trees: 1 foot, 2 feet, 3 feet, 4 feet, 5 feet, 6 feet
- Shrubs & Perennials: 1 foot, 18 inches, 2 feet
Important Notes
Container Volume Specifications
- Trade Gallon Standard: Our containers follow industry-standard "trade gallon" specifications established by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI Z60.1) for nursery stock
- Volume Variations: Actual soil volume may vary due to plant root systems and growing medium settlement
- Age Indicators: Container size primarily indicates plant age and maturity rather than liquid volume equivalents
Growing Conditions
- Plant size can vary based on variety and growing conditions
- Container size helps indicate plant maturity and establishment level
- Larger containers generally mean more established root systems and faster landscape establishment
Seasonal Availability
- Bare root plants are available seasonally when dormant
- Container plants are available throughout the growing season
- Specific varieties may have limited availability in certain sizes
Questions?
For questions about specific plant sizes or availability, please contact our plant experts who can help you choose the right size for your landscape needs.
Plant Highlights
Cardinal Flower highlights at a glance!
Specifications
Specifications
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Brand
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Botanical Name
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Growing Zones
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Mature Height
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Mature Spread
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Sun ExposureFull Sun
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Moisture
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Soil
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Growth RateMedium
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Flower Color
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Pollinator Friendly
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Fragrant
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodSummer
Growing Zones 3-9
Power up your butterfly garden design with a charge from a bright red, native flower. The big and bold Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) draws your eye and adds a tremendous vertical accent to the garden!
In the wild, these natives grow near water, in ravines, stream banks, swamps, and low pastures. So you know they will do wonders in your landscape! The leafy green clumps form more and more spires with each passing year! Snip a few stems for your bouquets to add a vertical focal point indoors too!
Fabulous red flowers climb along a long spire from the bottom up, and act as beacons for jewel-toned hummingbirds and local butterflies! The long bloom time and rich nectar are quite showy! These wetland natives grow throughout USDA zones 3 to 9 and spread into 2-foot wide clumps of lush greenery with their tall spires full of long green foliage.
Planting and Application:
Outstanding back-of-the-border plants in the moist Cottage garden border or Rain Garden. Add another dimension to your garden by using them around your ponds and bogs adds another special dimension, where you can see the long red spears reflected in the water!
For the most powerful impact, we'd advise dedicating enough space to plant several of these in a gentle zig-zag or row, since groupings attract the attention! These are truly effective when massed together! Hummingbirds and pollinators love it, the bold red color pops and the strong vertical accent draws your eye. Win, win, win!
- Attention-Grabbing Ruby Red Color
- Long Bloom Season
- Tidy & Tall Spreading Perennial Clumps
- Attracts Butterflies & Hummingbirds
- Dramatic Back of the Border, Specimens, Wetland Accents
#ProPlantTips for Care:
This is one of the showiest of all of our beloved North American prairie plants, and it tolerates moist soils. You don't even have to worry about the drainage of your soil as it tolerates moist living conditions beautifully. Plant in full sun for the strongest stems. These cold-hardy perennials will die back in the fall and need a good trim in the spring before new growth emerges. You can deadhead your plant to encourage new blooms all summer.
- Full Sun
- Grows Well in Moist Soils
- Moderate Moisture Needs
- Clean Mounds in Spring
- Hardy Native Wetlands
Order the big bold blooms of the native Cardinal Flower and impress your pollinators and hummingbirds. Find these and other perennial showoffs at Nature Hills Nursery!
Because it's a native plant, it does a little "too well" in certain areas. Please know that Nature Hills uses Plant Sentry™ to ensure we follow all local, state and federal regulations for plants that can become invasive in your area. We've got you covered!
