Black Truffle Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis 'Black Truffle'
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Black Truffle Cardinal Flower - #1 Container is backordered and will ship as soon as it is back in stock.
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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 |
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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
Black Truffle 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, Partial Shade
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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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Fall Color
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Pollinator Friendly
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Fragrant
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Pruning Time
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Bloom PeriodSummer, Fall
Growing Zones 5-8
Valuable wetland color and hummingbird magnets, this easy-care perennial is a "Power Player" in your moist soil landscape! It's one of the most colorful cultivars of our native wildflowers!
Starting in early summer, the Black Truffle Cardinal Flower PP#25687 (Lobelia cardinalis 'Black Truffle') features tall spires of scarlet red, trumpet-shaped blooms. The showy display lasts for months, all the way through to the first frost.
The dramatically dark foliage is a burgundy-tinged dark green that appears nearly black! It's the perfect backdrop for those brilliant red blooms! Tall wands rise up fast each year as these perennials gradually form clumps 18 - 24 inches wide. Cardinal Flower is an easy-to-grow specimen and very low-maintenance too!
Landscape Application:
Count on the dramatic black foliage to add deep, dark visual interest! Use several to amplify the effect! These can also be grown in a showy Cottage border, mixed perennial border with adequate supplemental water, or anywhere in the sun that needs a tall pop of color. Partner with Henry's Garnet or Scentlandia Sweetspire, and pump up the impact with a Choco Latte Hardy Hibiscus.
In the wild, Cardinal Plants grow in ravines, swamps, and low-lying pastures. They decorate stream banks and entice local pollinators and hummingbirds with their tubular-shaped, bright red flowers. Hummingbirds love the color red, and this plant sends a siren's call to them! So you'll definitely want to use this variety in your garden design. Bring your camera and track how many flying visitors you get!
Best of all? This beautiful perennial plant grows beautifully in clay soils that stay wet. Add to those low-lying areas of your yard, or at the water's edge. The brilliant red flowers and lushly dark foliage add dimension and texture to a water feature. Plant Black Truffle at the edge of a stream where you'll enjoy the reflected blooms in the water. Plant by the gutter downspout where they drain or create an entire Rain Garden to showcase this incredible specimen!
More prosaically, Black Truffle is a safe choice for use near septic tank drain fields. Might as well turn that area into a garden asset, right? Use several to make a showy display. Space them 12 inches apart, measuring from the center of one to the center of the next.
Cardinal Flowers and other wetland plants help filter runoff from roofs and streets. People are looking to use their landscape in a way to solve ecological challenges. Add color to soil retention and shoreline reclamation projects. They can be very effective in long, narrow drifts behind lighter-colored wetland plants like Evergold Sedge, or try them in front of taller Swamp Milkweed.
- Eye-Catching Color Combo - Nearly Black Foliage & Bold Red Flowers
- Enjoy Flowers for Months
- Attract Butterflies & Hummingbirds Adore This Plant
- Tolerates Wet Soils, Rain Gardens, Ponds & Wetlands
- Garden Focal Points, Back of the Border Accents & Specimens
#ProPlantTips for Care:
Black Truffle Cardinal Flower grows in both full sun in cooler climates and locations with consistent high moisture, or partial shade for drier or hotter growing zones. It will need at least 4 to six hours of sunlight a day for the best color and flowering. Plant these perennials throughout USDA hardiness zones 5 to 8 and watch them reach their full 3-4 foot height fast!
This plant requires a high amount of moisture for best performance. Add a three-inch layer of mulch over the top of the root zones in average garden soil. Give it supplemental water in times of drought. We recommend that you allow the dried foliage to stand over winter for protection. Wait until early spring to do light cleanup and trimming of spent leaves.
- Performs in Full Sun or Partial Shade
- Well-Drained Soil Of Any Kind
- Moderate to High Moisture Needs - Can Tolerate Occasionally Wet Soil
- Appreciates Mulched Beds
- Deadhead For Repeat Bloom & Prune Down In Fall
- Fast Growing Easy-Care Perennial
You'll love the positive impact that the Black Truffle Cardinal Flower has on your garden design. Include the bold color and majesty of these grand, upright perennials! Use them with pride in your landscape this season. Order Black Truffle Cardinal Flower today at NatureHills.com!
