Cardinal Plant (Lobelia cardinalis) – Potted

In-store pickup only.Your order is reserved, we hold off on bagging until you arrive so it stays healthy in its display tank.

The Cardinal Plant (Lobelia cardinalis) is a lush, compact aquarium plant with rounded, glossy green leaves that often blush bronze to deep purple underneath in strong light. A hardy North American marsh plant, it grows beautifully submerged in the aquarium and adds a soft, bushy splash of color to the midground. It is undemanding and a great choice for low-tech and high-tech tanks alike.

This plant arrives potted in rock wool, ready to trim and plant. Browse the rest of our live aquarium plants to round out your aquascape.

Care Guide

• Care level:Easy to moderate
• Lighting:Moderate to high; stronger light brings out richer color and a more compact shape
• Placement:Midground; also a striking emersed plant in paludariums and ripariums
• Growth:Upright and bushy, moderate; trim and replant tops to keep it dense
• CO2:Not required, but encourages faster, tighter growth
• Substrate:Roots best in a nutrient-rich substrate; root tabs help
• Propagation:Cut side shoots or tops and replant; roots readily from the nodes

Specifications

Common Names	Cardinal Plant, Cardinal Flower
Scientific Name	Lobelia cardinalis
Family	Campanulaceae
Origin	North and Central America
Plant Type	Marsh plant, grows submerged or emersed
Care Level	Easy to moderate
Lighting	Moderate to high
CO2	Optional
Placement	Midground
Max Height	6 to 10 in submerged
Temperature	68 to 82°F
pH	6.0 to 7.5
Pickup	In-store only

Companion Plants

The Cardinal Plant’s rounded leaves contrast nicely with finer and taller aquatics:

• Cryptocoryne wendtii ‘Bronze’ for warm midground tones
• Amazon Sword as a tall green backdrop
• Java Moss to soften the foreground and hardscape

Recommended Supplies

• Seachem Flourish Tabs root tabs for fuller, more colorful growth
• Aquarium Co-Op Easy Potassium for steady leaf health
• CaribSea PyroFlora Substrate for a planted-tank base
• More live aquarium plants

FAQ

Will Cardinal Plant grow fully submerged?
Yes.Lobelia cardinalisis a marsh plant that grows well underwater and is a popular midground aquarium plant. Plants grown emersed may drop a few older leaves as they convert to submerged growth, then settle in.

Does it need CO2?
No. It grows without CO2 under moderate to high light. CO2 simply speeds growth and keeps it more compact.

How do I keep its color?
Give it strong light and steady nutrients. Brighter conditions deepen the bronze and purple tones on the leaf undersides.

Is it safe for fish and shrimp?
Yes. It is non-toxic and its bushy growth makes great cover for shy fish, fry, and shrimp.