Genus:
Lobelia
Type:
cardinalis
Family:
Hometown:
Height of root with plant:
Light:
medium to high
Temperature:
10 – 28°C
Growth:
slow
pH:
6 – 7.5
Degree of hardness:
Co2:
propagation:
cuttings
Difficulty:
simply
Location in the aquarium:
Look
Denis Barthel, Lobelia cardinalis Belize 1, CC BY-SA 4.0
The cardinal lobelia can grow up to 1 meter tall. The leaves are alternate on the fleshy, up to 3 cm thick stems. Emers, the leaves are oblong and dark green on top and crimson on the underside. The smaller, submerged leaves are no less attractive with their light green color and oval shape.
The cardinal lobelia rarely forms side shoots. Fine, white roots grow out of the knots under water. On land or above the waterline, the cardinal lobelia forms a lush, bright red inflorescence.
distribution
The cardinal lobelia is native to North and Central America. Their distribution area extends from southern eastern Canada to Colombia. Cardinal lobelia is most commonly found in the eastern and central parts of the United States. It does not occur on the west coast.
The cardinal lobelia prefers to stand with its roots in the water, which is why it is often found in swampy areas and on the banks of streams and ponds. But it can also grow completely submerged.
In their natural habitat, the flowers of the cardinal lobelia are pollinated by songbirds, hummingbirds or butterflies.
husbandry conditions
Since the cardinal lobelia is considered to be very robust and has only low maintenance requirements, it turns out to be a grateful aquarium plant. Ideally, the water should be warm, soft and slightly acidic, but it can also deviate from these parameters. Those who work with more light and Co2 will be rewarded with bushier growth. Usually, however, fertilization is not necessary.
In its submerged form, cardinal lobelia is always a slow-growing plant, rarely requiring a step backwards. Propagation is by head cuttings. Due to its slow and upright growth, the cardinal lobelia is particularly popular in the plant streets of Dutch plant aquariums.
With good lighting and an open water surface, the cardinal lobelia also forms a flower style in the aquarium.
particularities
The cardinal lobelia has been used as a garden plant in Europe since the 17th century. In the 1960s it was also introduced to aquaristics in the Netherlands. Because of its exceptional ability to thrive in dry locations as well as completely submerged, cardinal lobelia is the only one of over 300 species in the genus Lobelia that has found use in both gardens and aquariums.