Plant of The Month November 2025: Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Photo Source: Credit: The Spruce / EMG
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Planning for 2026? With a stunning crimson floral spike, the native Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) can provide a splash of late summer colour in wet sunny areas of your garden. Plant in an area that gets full to part sun and regular moisture (crucial in any drought period) such as down spout drainage, a wet area or in a rain garden. This native plant can be obtained from Ontario nurseries supplying native plants. Do not transplant from the wild. Click Link for Growing Condition Details.
DETAILS: Growing Conditions: Sun: full sun to partial shade, does well in rich loam soil Water: Medium, moist soil until established Maintenance: low maintenance, dead head to encourage blooms; self-seeds Tolerates: relatively drought tolerant once established Zone: 8-10 Description / Characteristics: Height x Spread: 2-4 ft (60-130cm) high; 1-2 ft (20-50 cm) wide. Erect Bloom time and description: Blooms July to September; usually vibrant red spikes of deeply 5-lobed flowers. White and pink varieties also occur; Several nativar varieties are available. Pests & Disease: Minimal Propagation: Can be propagated by: seed; transplanting young plants at base of plant; and division of mature plants. Special value: Nectar source; favourite of humming birds. Host to pink-washed looper moth caterpillar (northern extent of range). Toxicity: Toxic. Do not consume any part of the plant or its seeds Common Names: Cardinal Flower Origin: Native to Ontario. Nativars and hybrid varieties have been developed. | ||
Plant of The Month October 2025: Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
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Plant of The Month September 2025: Anise Hyssop (Agastache Foeniculum)
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Plant of The Month August 2025: Primrose polyantha (Primula x polyantha)
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Plant of The Month July 2025: Anouk Lavender (Lavandula stoechas “Anouk”
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Plant of The Month June 2025: Fiddle Leaf Fig (Ficus lyrata)
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Plant of the Month May 2025 - Large-flowered bellwort (Uvularia grandiflora)
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Plant of The Month April 2025: Bleeding Heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) (formerly Dicentra spectabilis)
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Plant of the Month March 2025 – Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica)
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Plant of the Month February 2025 – Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
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Plant of the Month January 2025 – Chinquapin Oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)
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Plant of The Month December 2024: Ironweed (Vernonia fasciculata)
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Plant of The Month November 2024: Eastern Redbud (Cercis Canadensis)
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Plant of The Month October 2024: Fothergilla Shrub. (Fothergilla gardenii)
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Plant of The Month September 2024: Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum x morifolium)
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Plant of the Month August 2024: Gray Headed Coneflower/Pinnate prairie coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)
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Plant of the Month June 2024: Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis)
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Plant of the Month May 2024: Serviceberry Tree (Amelanchier).
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Plant of the Month April 2024: Lungwort or Bethlehem Sage/ Pulmonaria sp.
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Plant of The Month March 2024: Ozark witch hazel/Hamamelis vernalis
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Plant of The Month February 2024: Daphne mezereum/February daphne
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Plant of The Month January 2024: Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea) Shrub
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