
Light Needs

Mature Height

Mature Spread

Growing Zones
With its dark foliage and contrasting red blooms, the Black Truffle Cardinal Flower really stands out in a bed or a border. Producing deep chocolate-purple leaves with tall flower spikes adorned with red blooms, this perennial is great for adding impact and height to any garden. Botanically named the Lobelia cardinalis 'Black Truffle', it is commonly known as the Black Truffle Cardinal Flower and is adored by pollinators and hummingbirds.
Native to North America, the Black Truffle Cardinal Flower is happiest when grown on moist or wet soils. Forming an erect and clumping mound, this Lobelia can grow to a height of 4 feet and provide great structure to the garden. Thankfully deer-resistant, the ornamental foliage will last from early summer until the first frost. It can either be grown as a specimen plant or for more impact, as a group.
Black Truffle Cardinal Flower Care
The Black Truffle Cardinal Flower needs to be grown in moisture-retentive fertile soil and does well when planted in a bog or rain garden. To get the best flowers and foliage color, it is best to plant this Black Truffle Cardinal Flower in full sun or partial shade. With its tall stems, it is advisable to grow this plant in a sheltered location out of the prevailing winds. If grown in a soil of medium to high fertility, no supplemental fertilizer is generally necessary.
Once the flowering stems have finished, they can be cut back to promote a neat appearance, although this will mean any self-seeding will not occur. Sadly, the Black Truffle Cardinal Flower is often short-lived. However, it can easily be divided every few years in spring to produce replacement plants. If growth becomes leggy during the growing season, stems can be reduced to encourage new growth.
Black Truffle Cardinal Flower Spacing
If given the correct conditions, the Black Truffle Cardinal Flower can reach an eventual 4 feet tall by three feet wide. A plant spacing of approximately 24 inches is advisable if planted in groups.
Black Truffle Cardinal Flower Information
USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 - 9 |
Plant Type: Perennial |
Light Exposure: Full Sun (At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight) |
Mature Height: 3 - 4 Feet |
Mature Spread: 2 - 3 Feet |
Spacing: 2 - 3 Feet |
Habit: Upright |
Flower Color(s): Red |
Flower Description: N/A |
Bloom Period: Long Blooming Throughout The Summer |
Foliage Type: Herbaceous |
Foliage Color(s): Purple |
Foliage Description: Deep Chocolate Purple |
Seasonal Interest: Summer Flowering |
Watering: Average |
Resists: Deer |
Tolerates: N/A |
Attracts: Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
Container Role: Thriller |
Uses: Borders, Containers, Mass Planting, Specimen or Focal Point |
Features: Attracts Pollinators, Native to North America |
Brand: American Beauties Native Plants |
Common Name: Black Truffle Cardinal Flower |
Other Name(s): Cardinal Flower |
Scientific Name: Lobelia c. 'Black Truffle' |
- SKU:
- 1231008194-pc
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.

Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts

Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts

Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts

Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons

Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons

Also Known As:
#5 Container
5 Gallon
Plant Age:
~3-4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 20" - 60"
Pot Size:
~11" H x 10 1/2” W
Volume:
3.5 - 4 gallons

We stand behind our plants with industry-leading guarantees to give you peace of mind.
We want your plants to arrive in great condition! If you notice any issues upon delivery, contact us within 3 days.
Starting January 1, 2025 all bushes, perennials & trees purchased come with an extended 1-year warranty for added confidence. If your plant dies due to a health issue within a year, we’ll make it right.

Pre-ordered plants are scheduled to ship in Spring 2025. We carefully plan our shipping dates based on your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone to ensure optimal planting conditions upon arrival. Want it sooner/later? Reach out, and we'll try our best to accommodate.
Estimated ship week for pre-ordered plants will ship based on growing zones as shown below.
Growing Zone | Estimated Ship Week |
---|---|
Zone 10 | March 31th |
Zone 9 | March 31st |
Zone 8 | April 7th |
Zone 7 | April 14th |
Zone 6b | April 21st |
Zone 6a | April 28th |
Zone 5b | May 5th |
Zone 5a | May 12th |
Zone 4 | May 19th |
Zone 3 | May 26th |
Note: These are only estimated ship dates. Plants may ship out later depending on weather & growing conditions of the plant.
Note: Only plants indicated as pre-order will ship as shown above. All other plants and hard goods will ship as normal.
Plants that are currently in stock typically ship within 2-7 business days after your order is placed.
Plant Addicts ships to the lower 48 states within the U.S. Unfortunately, we do not currently ship to Alaska, Hawaii, or internationally.
This plant cannot be shipped to the following states: Idaho, AK, HI. These restrictions apply only to this specific plant due to agricultural regulations or other limitations. Other plants may still be available for shipping to these states.
If you have any questions about shipping restrictions, feel free to reach out to our team!