ZONE 5b, Mid Michigan. I got 3 cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) plugs from a native garden sale in early May this year. I planted 2 in one spot and 1 in another. All 3 have barely grown, let alone flowered. When I received them they looked healthy and had good roots. They have probably grown an inch of leaves and nothing else all summer. The places they are planted are a mix of sun and shade and that may be why they haven't grown. I have also fed them a little earthworm castings and bat guano to fertilize. I want to move them to a sunnier place (bc I suspect the lack of growth is due to not enough sun) but Im not sure if its too late now or if I should wait until spring. Thoughts on why they didn't grow and if I should wait to move them. (not my picture, taken off google, but my cardinal flower looks exactly like this now)
by TartComfortable41
8 Comments
Many natives can take a year or two setting in roots before they grow up and flower. If you have decent leaves, I think your plants are fine.
They’ll flower next year. First year they rarely bloom, and it’s better they don’t. Next year they’ll be huge.
I had some fist year plants that didn’t grow after I bought them at all, and one lost all of its leaves completely mid-summer. They all flowered the next year. They just take a while to establish.
I’m also in Michigan and have lots of cardinal flower, love it. Give it a year before making changes it’s probably growing massive roots right now. Takes a while to settle in after planting, it’s a shock to the plant and many natives prioritize root growth in the beginning. Worth it!
My local master gardeners refer to this cycle as sleep, creep, and leap. Most first year plants dont flower. You may get some the second year, but the third year is when they really take off.
Rosette only is common year one
I also got mine as plugs from a native plant sale, and they have done exactly this. Grew maybe an inch both up and out, absolutely nothing else. Meanwhile the great blue lobelia (also bought as plugs from same sale) went absolutely crazy, sent out long flowering stalks, and bloomed for around a month. I really think the cardinal flowers will be along next year!
FYI cardinal flower does not like to be covered with leaf litter or mulch. Keep the rosette clear of leaves over the winter