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Lobelia cardinalis / A reply

Hello Helen,
        This Lobelia is a strange one. Some came up volunteer this spring (or at
least that is when I first noticed them). One in the rock garden area in
almost full sun and very dry. The other is in one of my nursery beds in
full shade and reasonable moisture. The one is shade is now completing its
bloom cycle and is about 6 feet tall. One of the most beautiful specimen of
L. cardianalis I have ever seen. Been photographing the hey out of it. The
one in sun is about 18 inches, but blooming.
        I have had problems in the past transplanting this one. Always died out
after one year. The trick is to keep it moist enough long enough to let it
get a root system established. Then do NOT mulch around the base of the
plant. It produces small offsets around the crown that are next years
plants.
        The plant is normally found in the wild in places with a bit of consistent
moisture. The more light you find it in usually the more moisture it has
available. I recommend part shade and reasonable moisture supplied by
compost in the soil. It does not Have to have bog conditions, but it can
not be allowed to completely dry out. It is moisture sensitive. You would
have a better chance growing it in your bog garden than full sun and dry.
        This plant is a great one for fall color. I sell out each fall as people
come to the nursery and see them in bloom. I think there are 4 left out of
50 in the nursery display area right now. Great Blue Lobelia is easier to
grow than the Cardinal and it is still in bloom here. Both are
indispensable perennials for the shade garden in the fall.
        Gene Bush     Southern Indiana    Zone 6a     Munchkin Nursery
          around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com     http://www.munchkinnursery.com

----------
> From: Helen Gunnarsson <HWGunnar@AOL.COM>
> To: shadegardens@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
> Subject: [SG] Lobelia cardinalis
> Date: Thursday, September 17, 1998 6:24 AM
>
> Hello shadegardeners and especially Gene,
>
> Gene, I noticed you included lobelia cardinalis in your list of part
shade to
> shade plants.  I purchased one a couple months ago and have not been able
to
> figure out, either from the tag attached to it or from its description in
> several gardening books I have, what its proper site and care is.  In
fact, I
> think it's now dead, so I'll have to get another one because I just loved
it.
> I put it in full sun in a well-drained area, which is what I understood
its
> tag to say it liked.  However, I notice that www.garden.com sells it as a
bog
> plant.  What to do?  I have a small water garden and would love to put it
in
> there if that's the proper place.  Any advice/instruction would be
greatly
> appreciated!
>
> Helen in Chicago/zone 5
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