Starship Scarlet Bronze Leaf Cardinal Flower

Light Needs

Partial Sun to Full Sun

(At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)

Mature Height

22-28 Inches

Mature Spread

16-22 Inches

Growing Zones

6 to 10

Tall, graceful spires of scarlet red blooms will dazzle you. The bronzing on the green leaves perfectly complements the cardinal-red color of the blossoms. Hummingbirds and butterflies will be attracted to your garden by the tubular flowers that appear in its first year. Lobelia speciosa has a long, summer bloom period. It grows to a height of 22-28 inches, thriving in wet locations.

Starship Scarlet Bronze Leaf™ has a growth habit that is upright, sturdy, and bushy. It has no serious insect or disease problems; deer and rabbits avoid eating it. Native to North America, it is well adapted as a garden plant. The name, Lobelia, honors Matthias de l'Obel (1538-1616), a French physician and botanist. Use this plant in the role of ‘filler’ in combination pots or mass them in the border where they will add late summer height and color. Use them in difficult wet locations, and in rain gardens. They make beautiful cut flowers – cut them when the flowers are almost open.

Starship Scarlet Bronze Leaf Cardinal Flower Care

This is an easy-care plant that thrives in rich, medium-to-wet soils of any texture. Plant it on a cloudy day, or in the late afternoon, to reduce transplant shock. Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the root ball. Unpot the plant, gently loosening the roots to encourage good growth. Plant with the top of the root ball even with the surrounding soil. Water thoroughly and mulch lightly. You may apply a light fertilizer after new growth appears. Locate your Cardinal Flower in part sun to sun. When planting it in dry soil, site it in a location with part shade (4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight).

Deadheading spent flowers will encourage reblooming. In cold climates before winter, prune the dead stalks and stems and add mulch to protect the root system. Starship Scarlet Bronze Leaf™ is stunning in containers, just do not let them dry out completely, making sure they have adequate drainage. In mixed containers, pair them with other moisture-loving plants.

Starship Scarlet Bronze Leaf Cardinal Flower Spacing

Companion plants for this lobelia are ornamental grasses and coreopsis. Space your plants 16-22 inches apart from center to center.