Lobelia cardinalis f. albiflora

‘White Cardinal’

WHITE CARDINAL LOBELIA

Lobelia cardinalis f. albiflora ‘White Cardinal’

WHITE CARDINAL LOBELIA

Lobelia cardinalis f. albiflora ‘White Cardinal’ bears majestic spires of pure white, horned flowers with pouting bottom lips.

Majestic spires of pure white horned blooms

The large white blooms are stacked up on tall, upright stems in summer and autumn.
Producing multiple stately spires per perennial clump, with flowers pouting all around the stems, and rising to around 75 to 90cm tall – depending on conditions.
So it is a real “show-off”.

Great architectural spires later in the season, when other blooms are spent

Lobelia cardinalis f. albiflora ‘White Cardinal’ also makes a great architectural statement conveniently later in the season.
Producing its many flower spires when so many other blooms are already spent.
Then multiple spires arise from a low, neat rosette of glossy, deep green foliage approximately 45cm wide.

Plant in a partly shaded flower bed

Plant the lovely White Cardinal Lobelia in a position with dappled sunlight; or in a spot with morning sun but shaded from the hot afternoon sun, so you keep its pristine white blooms unblemished.
Then it performs beautifully in normal flower gardens, with well composted and enriched soil, given only average garden watering.
It is happy in either acid r alkaline soils, as long as they are of heavier texture.

Also particularly suits wet, clay or boggy spots

But the White Cardinal Lobelia also particularly suits wet, clay or boggy soils; and it is truly spectacular when planted at the side of a dam or where drainage is poor.
Because if it has wet feet then it can tolerate much more sun, and grows even taller and impressive.

Frost hardy & low maintenance

Lobelia cardinalis f. albiflora ‘White Cardinal’ is also frost hardy and low maintenance.
So the only work is to shear back the spent flower spires at the end of each flush.
And you cut them right back to the socks when the flowers are spent.
Then this encourages the low rosette of foliage to thicken up ready for another blooming.
The stems are thick, strong, and self-supporting.

High-rise feasts for bees & pollinators

Lobelia cardinalis f. albiflora ‘White Cardinal’ provides a high-rise smorgasbord for our favourite pollinators like bees and butterflies, and is even a nectar treat for native honey-eating birds.

Resistant to rabbits & deer

While pollinators love it, fortunately rabbits and deer do not.
So they prefer to nibble other treasures.

Perennial clump. 75-90cm High when in flower spire, otherwise a low, neat green foliage rosette 45cm Wide. 

SEED SOWING ADVICE:

Sow the seeds in a punnet indoors at any time when suitable temperatures can be provided. But spring or autumn is best.

Seed Sowing Tip: Lobelia seed is powder fine, so care when opening.
And this very fine seed is easier to sow if you first sieve some seed raising mix to a fine texture.
Then pop a pinch or two of the mix in the seed bag, shake well to collect up all the seed, then sow the whole contents into the seed raising punnet.

Sow seeds indoors for quick plants: First sow the seeds in a punnet on surface of good quality seed raising mix.
Then pat the surface gently to make sure the fine seeds are in good contact with the mix, but do not cover the seeds with mix.
Because these seeds need light to germinate.

Then stand the sown punnet in a shallow water bath and allow the moisture to percolate up to the surface of the mix from below (so as not to disturb the fine seed).

Now place the sown punnet in a warm, well lit place (not in any direct sunlight), or place on a heat mat covered with clear plastic lid.

Temperatures of 18-20°C are optimum for rapid germination.

And continue to keep the mix moist by misting with a fine spray from a water spray bottle.
Lobelias do need consistent moisture – so do not allow the punnet to dry out.
Covering with a clear plastic lid or plastic bag will help to maintain the necessary consistent moisture.
You can also re-soak in the shallow water bath as required.

Seedlings emerge in approx. 14-20 days.

Prick out seedlings into small pots as soon as the first set of true leaves develop.

Seed Count: 150 seeds per pack approx.
(We always aim to exceed the stated seed count, and give a generous serve).

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