Beautiful along a stream or beside a pond. They grow in and among a variety of flowering, creeping, and edible plants. Lobelia siphilitica, or Blue Cardinal Flower, is a Missouri native perennial which likes moist soil. They are attractive in the middle or back of the border, and naturalize well in woodlands and along stream banks. One of our best-known native wildflowers, the Cardinal Flower adapts well to garden condition, especially in moist areas beside ponds or water features. This clump-forming perennial has upright leafy stems. Great Blue Lobelia (also called Blue Cardinal Flower) is a tough, hardy perennial with large leaves and gorgeous, light blue blooms. It will naturalize along ditches and streams and features spires of colorful hood-like flowers on stately spikes in late summer and fall. A very colorful flowering plant, lobelia is a favorite among hobby gardeners. Lobelia cardinalis (syn. Perennial lobelias are useful for difficult, wet locations. Lobelia ×speciosa are popular garden hybrids (usually of L. cardinalis and L. siphilitica) with flowers in shades of blue, … The 100+ flowers tightly cluster into a long, tall blooming spire of vibrant blue. Late-season bloom time brightens borders after many summer flowers have faded. Echinacea produces a rayed flower that spans 2 to 4 inches in width. A lobelia, also known as a cardinal flower, is a plant that has more than 350 species. Another garden scheme to consider is to use all natives as companions for Echinacea. Noteworthy CharacteristicsLong-lasting bloom. Coneflower Companion Plants. Makes an excellent cut flower. Beautiful along a stream or beside a pond. The common name “cardinal flower” was quickly adopted due to the similarity of the flower color and the garments of Roman Catholic Cardinals. It has blue or purple tubular flowers with 2 … It forms an upright mound of green foliage, bearing taller spikes of scarlet-red flowers in mid to late summer. A stouter plant, of bright blue flowers with shorter stalks and larger flower heads. 1. Blueberries make natural companions for other plants in the heather family. Wildlife: Excellent nectar plant; attracts large bees, swallowtail butterflies, and hummingbirds. Attracts hummingbirds, bees and butterflies but not deer! This clump-forming perennial has upright leafy stems. Underplant the bushes with Scotch heather (Calluna vulgaris), which grows in USDA zones 4 through 6 and native to conditions almost identical to blueberry. Noteworthy CharacteristicsLong-lasting bloom. From left: blue geraniums and yellow daylilies mix freely with Rugosa Roses; the dainty, pink flowers of Paul’s Himalayan Musk provide contrast to coarser Horse chestnut leaves; Coralbells provide an airy backdrop. Great blue lobelia (L. siphilitica), also called blue cardinal flower, is another native perennial wildflower that bears long-lasting bright blue flowers. From late summer to mid-autumn, it bears dense spikes of light to bright blue tubular, two-lipped flowers with a more prominent lower lip.