Scarlet Bronze Leaf Cardinal Lobelia Perennial Plant – Quart Pot – Zones 6-10

Overview

Transform your garden with the breathtaking beauty of the scarlet bronze leaf cardinal lobelia, a stunning perennial plant that promises to be a focal point in any landscape. This particular Lobelia variety, known for its unique combination of deep bronze foliage and vibrant scarlet blooms, offers a truly dramatic visual impact. As a live plant, it is ready to establish itself in your garden, providing continuous color and interest throughout the summer and into the fall. Its upright growth habit makes it an excellent choice for adding vertical dimension to small gardens, containers, and mixed borders, harmonizing beautifully with mounding and trailing plants. This low-maintenance, high-impact perennial is an ideal selection for gardeners seeking to introduce unique elegance and dynamic appeal to their outdoor areas.

The scarlet bronze leaf cardinal lobelia is a hybrid, carefully bred to combine the most desirable traits of several species, resulting in a vigorous grower and reliable bloomer. Its striking appearance, coupled with its adaptability, ensures it will thrive in a variety of settings. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just starting, this plant offers an easy way to achieve a professional-looking garden with minimal effort. Prepare to enjoy the spectacular display and the ecological benefits this magnificent perennial brings.

Key Benefits

The scarlet bronze leaf cardinal lobelia offers a multitude of benefits, making it an indispensable addition to any garden. Its unique characteristics contribute to both aesthetic appeal and ecological health, providing long-lasting enjoyment and vibrant life to your outdoor space.

• Striking Color Combination: The deep bronze leaves provide a dramatic backdrop for the intense scarlet flowers, creating a visually stunning contrast that captures attention. This unique palette ensures your garden stands out.
• Compact & Versatile Size: Ideal for various garden applications, this plant’s manageable height makes it perfect for small gardens, containers, and tight spaces, allowing for flexible design options.
• Drought Tolerance: Once established, the scarlet bronze leaf cardinal lobelia demonstrates impressive tolerance for drier conditions, reducing the need for constant watering and making it a resilient choice for diverse climates.
• Attracts Pollinators: The vibrant scarlet flowers are a magnet for hummingbirds and butterflies, significantly enhancing your garden’s biodiversity and creating a lively, buzzing atmosphere. This is a key benefit of lobelia attracting hummingbirds.
• Easy to Grow: Known for its relatively low-maintenance nature, this perennial is adaptable to various conditions, making it an excellent choice for both novice and experienced gardeners. Its robust growth habit ensures consistent performance.
• Extended Bloom Period: Enjoy continuous blooming throughout the summer and into the fall, providing a prolonged season of vibrant color and interest in your garden.
• Deer Resistant: While no plant is entirely deer-proof, Lobelia varieties, including this bronze leaf lobelia, are generally considered fairly deer resistant, offering some protection against browsing.

Plant Care & Growing Tips

Caring for your scarlet bronze leaf cardinal lobelia is straightforward, ensuring a magnificent display with proper attention. This perennial thrives in conditions that mimic its natural habitat, preferring consistently moist yet well-drained soil. Regular watering is crucial, especially during dry spells and the establishment phase, though it becomes more drought-tolerant once mature. For optimal health and vibrant blooms, ensure the plant receives adequate sunlight.

It performs best in full sun to partial shade. In hotter climates, some afternoon shade can help protect the foliage and prolong blooming. The ideal soil should be rich in organic matter and have good drainage to prevent waterlogging, which can be detrimental to its root system. This plant is hardy in USDA zones 6-10, making it suitable for a wide range of climates. Fertilize lightly in spring with a balanced slow-release fertilizer to encourage vigorous growth and abundant flowering. Regular deadheading of spent blooms will not only maintain a tidy appearance but also stimulate continuous flowering throughout the season. Understanding cardinal lobelia plant care is key to its success.

Watch for common garden pests, though Lobelia is generally quite robust. Ensure good air circulation to prevent fungal issues, especially in humid environments. Should you notice any yellowing leaves or stunted growth, assess your watering schedule and soil conditions. This resilient plant will reward you with stunning colors and a lively garden if its basic needs are met. Pay attention to the specific needs of lobelia perennial zones to ensure optimal growth and longevity.

Size & Details

This scarlet bronze leaf cardinal lobelia is provided as a well-rooted, actively growing live plant in a quart pot, ready for transplanting into your garden or a larger container. Upon arrival, you can expect the plant to be approximately 6-10 inches tall, with its bronze foliage already beginning to develop its distinctive hue. The mature height of this perennial typically reaches between 20 and 24 inches, creating a strong vertical element in your garden design. Its spread is generally compact, making it suitable for various planting configurations without overcrowding.

The plant is a vigorous grower and a reliable bloomer, providing color from summer into fall. It is a hybrid variety, selected for its robust nature and exceptional floral display. Plant this bronze leaf lobelia in its preferred conditions, and you can anticipate a stunning show of scarlet blooms within its first growing season. Its adaptability to various garden settings, from mixed borders to container gardens, makes it a versatile choice for enhancing outdoor spaces with unique color and texture.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Q: What size is the plant I will receive in the quart pot? A: You can expect a well-rooted, actively growing plant that is approximately 6-10 inches tall, ready to be transplanted into your garden or a larger container.
• Q: What is the typical mature height of this perennial? A: The scarlet bronze leaf cardinal lobelia typically reaches a mature height of 20 to 24 inches, providing excellent vertical interest in your garden.
• Q: What are the ideal growing conditions for this Lobelia? A: It thrives in full sun to partial shade and prefers moist, well-drained soil. Once established, it can tolerate drier conditions, making cardinal lobelia plant care relatively easy.
• Q: How often should I water this plant? A: Water regularly, especially during hot and dry periods. While it becomes somewhat drought-tolerant once established, consistent moisture is beneficial for optimal growth and blooming.
• Q: Does this plant attract hummingbirds and butterflies? A: Yes, the intense scarlet flowers of this Lobelia are highly attractive to hummingbirds and butterflies, making it an excellent choice for anyone interested in lobelia attracting hummingbirds.
• Q: Is this plant deer-resistant? A: While no plant is completely deer-proof, Lobelia varieties, including this bronze leaf lobelia, are generally considered fairly deer resistant.
• Q: Will this plant rebloom if I deadhead it? A: Yes, regular deadheading of spent flowers will encourage continuous blooming throughout the summer and into the fall, maintaining a tidy appearance and extending the floral display.
• Q: What USDA zones is this perennial hardy in? A: This Lobelia is hardy in lobelia perennial zones 6 through 10, ensuring its survival in a wide range of climates across the United States.
• Q: Can this plant be grown in containers? A: Absolutely! Its compact size and upright habit make it an ideal choice for containers, adding a vibrant pop of color to patios, balconies, or small garden spaces.
• Q: What kind of soil does it prefer? A: It prefers moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Good drainage is key to preventing root issues and promoting healthy growth.