Lobelia siphilitica, Great Blue Lobelia

In the quiet shimmer of late summer, Blue Cardinal Flower brings a cool brilliance to wet meadows and rain gardens. Its rich sapphire-blue blooms stand tall among the greens, drawing hummingbirds and native bees to their tubular blossoms. Thriving where soil stays moist—from stream edges to shaded garden hollows—this native perennial adds both color and life to places that other plants might overlook.

Low in maintenance yet striking in presence, Blue Cardinal Flower reminds us that beauty often grows where water lingers. Plant it alongside its red cousin, Lobelia cardinalis, for a breathtaking display that mirrors the balance of fire and water in nature’s palette.