Dortmann's Cardinalflower
Lobelia dortmanna
- Native to:
- Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Føroyar, France, Germany, Ireland, Labrador, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Prince Edward I., Russia, Sweden, United States
Rolf Engstrand
Taxonomy
- Division:
- Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
- Family:
- Campanulaceae
- Genus:
- Lobelia
- Species:
- Lobelia dortmanna
- USDA Symbol:
- LODO
Growth Characteristics
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Growth Habit:
- Forb/herb
- Height:
- 70 cm
- Light Requirements:
- Full Sun
- Drought Tolerance:
- Low
- Bloom Months:
- jul,aug,sep
- Bloom Colors:
- white, pale blue, lavender
Wildlife Benefits
- Bees:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
- Caterpillars:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Recorded caterpillar host plant (HOSTS Database)
Keystone Species Ranking
- Caterpillar Keystone:
- ★☆☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)
Host Plant for Caterpillars
Eoparargyractis plevie
Garden & Ecology Notes
- Wildlife Value:
- aquatic insects
- Deer Resistant:
- Yes
Soil Requirements
- Soil Type:
- sandy, acidic, nutrient-poor soil
- pH:
- 4.5 - 6.5 (acidic to slightly acidic)
- Drainage:
- excellent drainage required
- Moisture:
- consistently moist
- Notes:
- Commonly found in shallow, oligotrophic lakes and ponds
Propagation & Germination
- Stratification:
- Cold/moist stratification required — 30–60 days
- Germination Time:
- 14–42 days
- Notes:
- Seeds require light for germination; sow on surface of wet, sandy substrate. Cool temperatures (15-18°C) preferred.
The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI
Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).
Source: Claude AI