Proven Winners® Starship™ Blue Cardinal Flower

Launch your garden into another galaxy with the Proven Winners® Starship™ Blue Cardinal Flower (Lobelia x speciosa 'Pas1302712') is a captivating perennial renowned for its deep violet-blue spire-like blooms and robust growth habit.

The Starship™ Blue Cardinal Flower produces tall, densely packed flower spikes covered in intense, royal blue to deep violet flowers. The tubular, two-lipped flowers along the straight stems feature a long, slender tube that flares open into two distinct, pointed petals, creating a delicate yet striking effect.

This improved Lobelia hybrid variety is known for its vigorous growth, prolific flowering, and extended bloom time, making it an excellent choice for gardens in need of bold color and pollinator-friendly appeal.

Key Features

• Vibrant Blooms: Produces deep violet-blue flowers on upright spikes, attracting hummingbirds and butterflies.
• Compact Size: Reaches a height of 28 to 32 inches and spreads 18 to 20 inches, suitable for various garden settings.
• Extended Bloom Period: Flowers from mid-summer to fall, providing lasting color.
• Foliage: The elongated, lance-shaped foliage emerges as a rich green in spring but often takes on a subtle burgundy or purple tint as the season progresses, adding contrast to the garden.
• Wildlife Friendly: Attracts bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, for garden biodiversity.
• Wildlife Resistance: Cardinal Flowers are resilient native plants and resist deer and rabbit browsing unless desperate.
• Hardiness Zones: Suitable for USDA planting zones 6 through 10.

Make your garden blast off with the cosmic beauty of Starship™ Blue! This Blue Cardinal Flower is a versatile vertical element for your garden and thrives in moist to high-moisture soil conditions, full sun, and a wide range of conditions. Growing 28-32 inches tall and the basal clumps spreading just 18-20 inches wide, these are smaller than native Giant Lobelia.

• Borders and Edges: Adds vertical interest and vibrant color. Create groupings for a higher impact among Cottage Gardens and mixed Perennial Borders.
• Moisture-Loving – Thrives in rich, well-draining soil but is particularly well-suited to rain gardens, pond edges, and wetland areas, where it adds color and texture to damp environments.
• Containers: Suitable 'Thriller' for large pots, bringing color to patios or decks.
• Pollinator Borders: This flower is on a mission: to fill your garden with pollinator-friendly beauty! Bees, butterflies, and beneficial insects are especially drawn to these blooms. For hummingbirds, the flower's nectar is irresistible!
• Cut Flower Gardens: Snip the blooms for tall bouquet elements indoors!

Planting & Care Guide

These hardy herbaceous perennials thrive in sun, heat, moisture, and humidity!

• Planting Time: Best planted in spring or fall to establish roots before extreme temperatures.​
• Sun Exposure: Thrives in full sun to partial shade; in hotter climates, partial shade/afternoon shade is beneficial.
• Soil Requirements: Prefers moist, well-drained soils; suitable for damp locations like pond edges or low-lying areas.
• Water Needs: Requires consistent moisture; ideal for rain gardens or areas with adequate water supply.
• Spacing: Space plants 18 to 20 inches apart to allow for proper air circulation and room to grow.
• Mulching: Apply a 3-4 inch deep layer of mulch to retain soil moisture and insulate the root system.
• Deadheading: Remove spent flowers to encourage continuous blooming.

Bold Blue Blooms - Light-Years Ahead of Ordinary Flowers!

Don't miss out on this gorgeous, pollinator-friendly favorite—order your Proven Winners® Starship™ Blue Cardinal Flower today from Nature Hills Nursery and bring vivid, season-long color to your garden!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the Starship™ Blue Cardinal Flower tolerate dry conditions?

While it prefers moist soils, with adequate watering, it can adapt to drier conditions.

Is this plant suitable for container gardening?

Yes, Starship’s compact size makes it ideal for containers, provided it receives sufficient moisture.

How can I encourage reblooming?

Regular deadheading of spent flowers can promote additional blooms. ​

Do Cardinal Flowers require fertilization?

Generally, it thrives without additional fertilization, especially in highly organic moist soils.​

Is it prone to any pests or diseases?

It is relatively pest-free and shows resistance to common garden pests like deer and rabbits.