Anubias Lobelia Cardinalis

The less demanding stem plant Lobelia cardinalis, the cardinal flower, comes from North America and South America. The 10 to 30 cm high aquarium plant is perfect for the middle ground of the aquarium and tolerates soft to medium-hard water. Suitable for cold water pools.

The not very well-known Lobelia from North America and South America is in our opinion a great aquarium plant - by the way, the only lobelia that has made it into the aquarium hobby. The stem plant, which remains quite low, grows rather slowly.

The lobelia, which is very easy to keep in the aquarium, takes its name from the colour of its scarlet flowers and red foliage. However, it only shows these features in the land form, underwater the elliptical leaves of the cardinal lobelia are light green.

The cardinal lobelia does not necessarily need an additional supply of CO2, but with carbon fertilisation, the stems grow stronger and the leaf colours are more intense and radiant.

In order to reproduce this unusual aquarium plant, you can clip off shoot tips about 10 cm long and for a new group of Lobelia simply stick them a few centimetres deep into the gravel or soil in the aquarium.

Our expert Oliver Knott recommends:
In a shallow open aquarium, you can let the Lobelia grow out of the water. Then it becomes much higher than the underwater form and it can attach its beautiful bright red flowers - a real feast for the eyes. You can also keep the Lobelia as a normal garden shrub, it is even hardy in protected locations with a cover as frost protection.