- Partial Sun to Full Sun (At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)
- Height 28 - 32 Inches
- Width 18 - 20 Inches
- Growing Zones 6-10
One of the few true blue perennials, Starship Blue Cardinal Flower Lobelia is an outstanding example of an improved cultivar. While most L. speciosa hybrids tend to be short lived, this cultivar of L. speciosa is a knock out with its violet blue 1 to 2 inch flowers on tall spikes and its rosette of basal leaves in a bright green. Tending to prefer a very moist to wet habitat, lobelia can be grown in your drier soil with a little care and maintenance from you. It is worth the extra effort! Starship Blue Cardinal Flower Lobelia is one of the earliest flowering lobelia in spring.
Native to North American where it is found in wetlands, along streams and in dense damp woodlands, Lobelia speciosa has intrigued gardeners for centuries. Starship Blue grows reliably in Zones 6-10, preferring the hot humid summers over the cool woodland climates, so it adapts fairly well into a not-so-wet garden environment. Now you have two options for enjoying these lovely perennials, a bog garden, wetland or pond edge garden setting, or a well-drained soil garden where it can be kept consistently moist. This tough perennial can even survive brief floodings, so don’t be afraid to plant it streamside or in a wetland area.
Starship Blue Cardinal Flower Care
Plant in full sun in Northern cooler climates and when in moist to wet conditions, and by rule of thumb, opt for part shade in hot humid Southern gardens. If planting in drier well draining soil, keep it consistently moist with drip irrigation and an application of mulch to hold moisture in, plus keep it in the shade to reduce evaporation of the water in the soil. True of most North American wildflowers, fertilizer is not typically needed. Lobelia tolerates a wide range of soil types from poor to fertile, and also adapts to a wide range of soil pH from acidic to alkaline. This is truly a versatile perennial for warm winter gardeners. This lobelia loves the heat.
Deadheading is not needed to keep lobelia flowering for you, but it does help clean up spent flowers and may trigger a rebloom at a later time. Resist cleaning the foliage up in late fall and winter to allow it to protect the roots in colder winter regions. Mulch the root zone in cold winter zones, and clean everything up in early spring before new growth emerges.
Starship Blue Cardinal Flower Spacing
Space your lobelia 18 to 20 inches apart from other plants to allow it room to grow. Cardinal flowers grow to about 32 inches tall and 20 inches wide so need some room to spread out. Pair this beautiful blue flower with a large hosta, whose flower spikes will rival the lobelia for height and whose base needs are very similar to lobelia, making maintenance a lot easier. All in all, gardeners will agree that Starship Blue Cardinal Lobelia is worth every ounce of care that they expend for it once they see it in their spring gardens.
Starship Blue Cardinal Flower Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 6-10 |
| Plant Type: Perennial |
| Sunlight Exposure: Partial Sun to Full Sun |
| Mature Height: 28 - 32 Inches |
| Mature Width: 18 - 20 Inches |
| Plant Spacing: 18 - 20 Inches |
| Growth Habit: Upright |
| Flower Color(s): Blue |
| Flower Shade: Blue Shades |
| Seasonal Interest: Mid Summer Late Summer Early Fall |
| Foliage Type: Herbaceous |
| Foliage Color(s): Green/Purple Shades |
| Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Resists: Deer, Rabbits |
| Features: Attracts Pollinators, Low Maintenance, Native to North America |
| Uses: Border Plant Mass Planting |
| Plant Brand: Proven Winners |
| Botanical/Scientific Name: Lobelia speciosa 'Blue' |
- SKU:
- LOBSS
Container Sizes
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.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
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
2.5 Quart
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
#1 Pot
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
#2 Pot
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
#3 Pot
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
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
Click here for more detailed shipping information.
Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations