Cardinal Flower and Great Blue Lobelia

Cardinal flower, L. cardinalis, grows best in moist, very rich soil. It blooms in late summer with striking, intensely red flowers. If the soil is allowed to get too dry, the stems may flop over. Most of the leaves are a basal rosette that I've been told should be kept clear of too much leaf litter so the leaves can get light. It's a short-lived perennial so it should be divided every few years or propagated from seeds so you always have a healthy stand growing.

I also grow great blue lobelia ,L. siphilitica., It seems to have similar cultural requirements to what cardinal flower likes and in my garden has self-sown quite a bit so it must be happy there. It's not especially showy and the foliage isn't much to get excited about, but it grows so well I can't just get rid of it. Last year I found a seedling with pure, white flowers that I'm hoping I can keep.