Cardinal Flower ‘Queen Victoria’ (Lobelia cardinalis ‘Queen Victoria’)

Cardinal Flower ‘Queen Victoria’

Striking red flowering marginal plant with rich foliage for bold pond planting

Cardinal Flower ‘Queen Victoria’ (Lobelia cardinalis ‘Queen Victoria’) is one of the most eye catching marginal plants you can introduce to a pond or bog garden. Known for its intense scarlet red flower spikes and deep burgundy foliage, this variety creates a dramatic focal point that stands out beautifully against the greens and softer tones of a typical pond setting.

Flowering later in the season, usually from August through to September, this plant provides a welcome burst of colour when many other pond plants are beginning to fade. The tall, upright flower spikes rise above the dark stems and foliage, adding both height and structure to your pond margins. This makes it an excellent choice for adding vertical interest and contrast within planting schemes.

The rich, purplish red leaves are just as valuable as the flowers themselves, offering colour throughout the growing season even before blooming begins. When planted alongside lighter green marginals or floating plants, the contrast can be particularly striking.

Cardinal Flower ‘Queen Victoria’ thrives in moist to wet conditions and is ideal for planting on shallow pond shelves or in boggy ground. It performs best in full sun but will tolerate partial shade, although flowering may be slightly reduced in lower light conditions. Consistently damp soil is key to keeping this plant healthy and producing strong blooms.

In addition to its ornamental value, this plant is also beneficial for wildlife. The vivid flowers attract bees and pollinators, helping to support a healthy pond ecosystem. While not fully hardy in the harshest UK winters, it can be successfully grown in most regions with some protection or by positioning it in a sheltered spot.

Overall, Cardinal Flower ‘Queen Victoria’ is perfect for anyone looking to add bold colour, height, and structure to their pond margins while still supporting wildlife and biodiversity.

🇬🇧 UK-grown aquatic plant: Grown at a dedicated aquatic plant nursery in the South of England and carefully prepared for delivery across the UK.

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Key Benefits

• Vibrant scarlet red flowers for late season colour
• Rich burgundy foliage adds contrast throughout the season
• Ideal for creating height and structure in pond planting
• Excellent for pollinators such as bees
• Perfect for pond margins, bog gardens, and damp borders
• Adds a dramatic focal point to any pond

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Reasons to Buy

• One of the most striking marginal plants available
• Provides colour when many other plants are fading
• Great for mixing with waterlilies and softer planting
• Easy to grow in consistently moist conditions
• Supplied ready planted for quick and simple installation

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Care Instructions

• Place on a marginal shelf at a depth of 0 cm to 15 cm, measured from the top of the basket to the water surface.
• Position in full sun or partial shade, ensuring soil remains consistently moist. During dry periods, keep the plant well watered if not fully submerged. Allow foliage to die back naturally in autumn to support healthy regrowth. In colder areas, consider adding mulch or moving to a more sheltered position to protect the crown over winter.

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Flowering Period

August to September

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Size and Growing Conditions

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Dispatching Your Pond Plants

Your Cardinal Flower ‘Queen Victoria’ will be carefully packed to protect the foliage and roots during transit.

Orders received by 11am Monday to Wednesday are normally dispatched on the following working day using a next working day courier service. During busy periods, dispatch may occasionally take an extra day.

To avoid plants being held in depots over a weekend, we do not usually dispatch on Fridays. Highlands and Islands orders using a two day service are not normally dispatched on Thursdays.

Available basket sizes:

• Pack of 3 × 9cm Pots
• 1 Litre Basket – usually 11 × 11 × 11cm square; some varieties may be supplied in a 14cm diameter × 10cm round basket
• Pack of 3 × 1 Litre Baskets – each usually 11 × 11 × 11cm square
• 3 Litre Hexagonal Basket – 18 × 18 × 16cm

Planting depth is measured from the top of the aquatic basket to the water surface.

Plants supplied in 9cm pots require potting into suitable aquatic baskets before being placed in the pond.

Finofil baskets are manufactured in the UK from 100% recycled plastic and are fully recyclable. Their fine dual-mesh construction helps retain aquatic soil while allowing water and nutrients to reach the roots. Basket shape may vary slightly depending on the plant and supplier availability.

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Similar pond plants

For another pond-edge planting option, compare White Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica alba) and Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis). Explore the Lobelia pond plant group to compare the whole collection.

Explore more marginal pond plants or browse our complete pond plants range. Need baskets, aquatic soil or planting essentials? Browse our pond plant baskets and aquatic planting supplies.