Black Truffle Cardinal Flower

Light Needs

Full Sun

(At Least 6 Hours Of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

3-4 Feet

Mature Spread

2-3 Feet

Growing Zones

5 to 9

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.