Lobelia cardinalis ‘Black Truffle’ – Cardinal Flower

Most dark-leaved forms of Cardinal Flower tend not to be particularly cold hardy since the origin of the purplish foliage is usually a Mexican species, Lobelia fulgens. ‘Black Truffle’ is different – it was derived from L. cardinalis by Peter Heus of Enchanter’s Garden in West Virginia, and carries the location’s Zone 5 cold hardiness. And the plant hasn’t lost the typical vibrant red, hummingbird-attracting flowers that green-foliage Cardinal Flower sport. The basal rosette on which flowers are produced dies after flowering but is replaced by offsets that typically flower the following year. Remember to avoid smothering those rosettes with mulch.