Cardinal Flower - Lobelia cardinalis

Lobelia cardinalis, also known as Cardinal Flower, is a perennial wildflower native to Michigan and the UP. It is one of our few red flowers.
Plant reaches 4 feet tall and flowers from July to September with a vibrant red blossom.
A hummingbird favorite, this plant is designed to be hummingbird pollinated. It has a structure above the red "landing pad' which paints pollen on the hummingbird's neck in a precise spot, that then is brushed off onto the next flower.

It prefers full sun to partial shade, medium to wet soil and will grow in muck, clay, sand, gravel, or loam. Grows well in average moisture garden soil, especially if watered during drought. This plant is meant for streambanks where competition is scoured away, and will put up with a variety of soil types if it has the right light and moisture. Seeds need light to germinate, so make sure there is some bare soil if you want it to reseed.
 
Note: This plant does not like greenhouse life. It is slow to germinate in the spring, and it overwinters poorly in little plastic pots. As a result, we rarely have it in the quantities we need for spring. If you want this plant, buy it when it is in stock, even if that is mid-summer.