Lobelia Fulgens Queen Victoria

'Queen Victoria' is a dramatic cardinal flower with upright stems of beetroot-purple foliage and long terminal spikes of brilliant scarlet, two-lipped flowers. The contrast remains striking from midsummer into autumn and is particularly effective beside ponds, in bog gardens or among dark grasses. The blooms are rich in nectar and adapted to visiting hummingbirds in their North American homeland, while bees also use them in gardens. Short lived but spectacular, the plant benefits from constant summer moisture and a protective dry mulch over the crown in winter.