Cardinal flower (lobelia)
Lobelia cardinalis
PlantsFreshwater
- Care level
- Easy
- Maximum size
- 30 cm
- Temperature
- 20–28 °C
- pH
- 6–7.5
- Light
- Medium
- Diet
- Photosynthetic
Care at a glance
The cardinal flower is a marsh plant with fiery red blooms above water, but under water a sturdy, upright plant with round, light green leaves and purple undersides. The small cultivar, lobelia mini, stays around ten centimetres and is a fixture in Dutch-style planted tanks.
It grows slowly, is undemanding about light and tolerates hard water well, which makes it a rewarding midground plant for anyone not using CO2. Plant the stems in a group, prune them when they get too tall and replant the tops. It roots slowly, so avoid moving it too often.
Related species
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Values are mainstream hobbyist guidance, not gospel — always watch what your own animals need.