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Lobelia cardinalis
Lobelia cardinalis
Lobelia cardinalis is a robust, slow-growing stem plant renowned for its fleshy light green leaves, ideal for creating 'streets' in Dutch-style aquascapes.
Class:Liliopsida
Order:Asterales
Family:Campanulaceae
Genus:Lobelia
Species:Lobelia cardinalis
Formerly known as:
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Water Temperature
4 - 30 °C
pH Value
6 - 7.5
Water type
Freshwater
Light
Medium to High
CO2
High
Expected height
22 cm
KH
2 - 14 dKH
Species description
Geographic Origin and Habitat: No additional source-verified editorial notes are available about geographic origin and habitat for Lobelia cardinalis. Consult this record's parameters and sources.
Taxonomy and Genetics: No additional source-verified editorial notes are available about taxonomy and genetics for Lobelia cardinalis. Consult this record's parameters and sources.
Physical Structure: No additional source-verified editorial notes are available about physical structure for Lobelia cardinalis. Consult this record's parameters and sources.
Colour and Texture: No additional source-verified editorial notes are available about colour and texture for Lobelia cardinalis. Consult this record's parameters and sources.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Lighting & CO2: Requires moderate-high to intense lighting to keep internodes compact and promote wide leaf development. CO2 injection (15-20 mg/L) is advised to accelerate the otherwise slow growth rate and to produce thicker, healthier leaves.
Nutrition & Substrate: A fertile and nutrient-rich substrate is of vital importance due to the plant's powerful root system. Utilizing active soil or clay-based substrate and regularly placing root tabs rich in iron and potassium near the base is recommended to support growth.
Water Chemistry: Extremely adaptable: tolerates temperatures from 4°C to 30°C, pH from 6.0 to 7.5, and KH hardness from 2 to 14 dKH. It prefers stable, well-filtered water, with an ideal temperature range between 20°C and 25°C to maximize submerged growth.
Space Management & Placement: It is one of the most famous plants for creating 'streets' in Dutch-style layouts, where it is arranged diagonally from the foreground to the midground. Stems should be planted individually about 2 cm apart to prevent the leaves from overlapping too much.
Pruning: Pruned by cutting the top of the stem at the desired height. This stimulates the plant to produce numerous lateral shoots, assuming a compact bushy shape. Trimmed tips can be replanted directly into the substrate for propagation.
Risks & Diseases: The main risk is related to substrate nutrient deficiencies, which present as stem thinning and loss of lower leaves. In low-light tanks or with low CO2, growth can halt almost completely, leaving the plant vulnerable to black brush algae on older leaves.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
This species originates from: North America.
Origin
North America
Plant profile
- Placement
- No verified data available
- Botanical form
- No verified data available
- Growth
- No verified data available
- Substrate
- No verified data available
- Column fertilization
- No verified data available
- Root fertilization
- No verified data available
- Trimming
- No verified data available
- Propagation
- No verified data available
- Nutrients
- No verified data available
- Sensitivity
- No verified data available
- Layout role
- No verified data available
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
Related species
Recommendations grouped by close relatives, companion choices, and similar care.
