Hardy, North American herbaceous perennial Description: Bright blue flowers in dense clusters, mid to late summer Habit: Flower spikes grow 2-3 feet high Culture: Prefers full sun to part shade and humus rich, moist garden loam; tolerates wet ground Hardiness: Cold hardy to USDA Zone 4 Origin: North America Attributes: Rain garden, Deer resistant, Attracts butterflies and hummingbirds This native wildflower has been grown in American flower gardens since at least the beginning of the 19th century. At one time it was thought to be a cure for venereal disease, thus the botanical name. Philadelphia nurserymen John and William Bartram sent seed of the Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) and the Great Lobelia (L. siphilitica) to Europe in 1784. In The American Gardener's Calendar, 1806, Philadelphia nurseryman Bernard McMahon named "Lobelias of various kinds" first among the "beautiful ornamental plants that may now be collected from the woods, fields, and swamps to embellish the Flower-garden and Pleasure-grounds..." McMahon advertised seeds of this species in his 1804 broadsheet and the William Prince Nursery on Long Island offered it in 1818. Bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds are attracted to the tubular flowers, but deer typically avoid this plant due to its toxicity.Arrives in a 2.5" pot.
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