A red wildflower to go with a red house:
.jpg) |
| Cardinal flower |
.jpg)
These native wildflowers grow naturally near ponds and stream beds - they like moisture. Down here in the South, they also appreciate some shade, though they can take more sun farther north.
.jpg)
This flower grows from 2 to 4 feet tall, and the blooms last quite a long time, slowly unfurling their plume of many scarlet-colored, tubular flowers.
.jpg)
They usually just have one long terminal spike at the end, but I seem to also have an odd branching one.
.jpg)
Another beautiful thing about Cardinal flowers - they are pollinated by and attract hummingbirds.
.jpg) |
| peering through my window at a Hummingbird and Cardinal Flower |
.jpg) |
| Hummingbird and Monarda |
I do think that the Cardinal flower wins in the looks department, though!
To learn more about our native wildflowers from other garden bloggers, visit Wildflower Wednesday over at the site Clay and Limestone!
Cardinal flower is SO pretty! We just rarely have spots with enough water to keep it healthy.
ReplyDeleteThat is one exciting shade of red! I'm picturing a blouse in that color... And it's so funny that the Hummingbirds prefer the Monarda.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting red flower, love the hummer! LT
ReplyDeleteI've never seen red lobelia, I thought it is small white or blue plant only.
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful Indie. I love the red. I planted two small one this spring but I do not know whether they will bloom this summer.The Humming birds love your Red ones.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting flower. I don't have any in my garden. Nice capture of the hummer.
ReplyDeleteI do agree--the cardinal flower wins the beauty contest, hands down! This is such a pretty flower; I wish I had a shady wet spot to grow them, but this summer there isn't a damp spot anywhere to be found. Fantastic photos, especially the hummers!
ReplyDeleteNeat! I'm planning to get a Monarda for my garden -- hoping to attract more bees to boost the harvest. But a hummingbird would be a welcome surprise, too!
ReplyDeleteOne of my favorite native plants.
ReplyDeleteMonarda is a champ at attracting the hummingbirds. I grow it just for them. Your photo of the hummer is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI haven't succeeded yet with the Lobelia but hummers like to visit my Scarlet Runner bean flowers. Lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful shade of red! This summer's drought has made even damp areas dry, I'm afriad. It might be a bit tricky to grow this in my yard. But …..gardener's love a challenge:)
ReplyDeleteI just love Lobelia cardinalis, I have tried them twice in my garden, in two different spots. They did well the first year both times, but didn't come up next year. They are supposed to be perennials so I don't know what happened, gave up after two attempts, but maybe I will try again. Loved your photos, beautiful.
ReplyDeleteApplause, applause...wonderful photos and the hummer was a treat! gail
ReplyDeletePlease tell us more about your winter sowing of cardinal flower. Can you tell us or show us what the new seedlings look like? A cool post about winter sowing cardinal flower would be refreshing about now!
ReplyDeleteI have written a post about wintersowing here: http://www.redhousegarden.com/2014/02/the-easy-way-to-start-seeds-winter-sow.html
DeleteI have wintersowed all sorts of plants over the past few years, and it really is much easier for those perennials that need a lot of cold moist stratification like cardinal flower. (Usually about 75 to 80% of the perennials I plant by wintersowing come up for me.) It's really nice to be able to have something gardening related to do in winter, too. Often I start my wintersowing after there is snow on the ground (here in my garden in Massachusetts). Hope that helps with propagating your cardinal flowers!