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Hardiness: USDA Zone 3b: to -37.2 °C (-35 °F) USDA Zone 4a: to -34.4 °C (-30 °F) USDA Zone 4b: to -31.6 °C (-25 °F) USDA Zone 5a: to -28.8 °C (-20 °F) USDA Zone 5b: to -26.1 °C (-15 °F) USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F)
Sun Exposure: Full Sun Sun to Partial Shade Light Shade Partial to Full Shade
Danger: Handling plant may cause skin irritation or allergic reaction
On Jun 11, 2008, aspenbooboo41 from Whitehall, PA (Zone 6a) wrote:
Beautiful foliage & striking red flowers. Wilts easily in high heat and low moisture, but if you give it a drink it perks right back up. Plant is rated hardy to zone 3 or 4, but did not survive winter in zone 6a for me last year (hence the 'neutral' rating). I bought a few more plants because they are so lovely, and will try mulching-over this winter and see how that goes.
On Oct 27, 2007, Joy from Kalama, WA (Zone 8b) wrote:
I've grown 'Queen Victoria' Lobelia cardinalis in my garden for over 10 years. It hasn't been a short lived plant in my garden, perhaps it's only short lived in colder zones?
On Jul 22, 2007, flamingonut from New Milford, NJ wrote:
Striking foliage and haven't had any issues with flopping. I've seen conflicting hardiness ratings and am hoping it survives zone 6 winters. I had purchased it at a local nursery, on the perennial table.
On Nov 4, 2006, JodyC from Palmyra, IL (Zone 5b) wrote:
I bought two of these on sale at Lowe's..it says hardy zones 3-9 to -40* I hope they are correct...grown by Sawyer Nursey in Hudsonville,MI. if it grows there it should grow here..I will update in the spring to add my zone if it makes it through the winter.
There appears to be some confusion over the parentage of this particular cultivar, to avoid further confusing the issue I have not put a species name in. However, you may find Queen Victoria listed under L. cardinalis, L. splendens, L. fulgens and L. x speciosa. Update on names 3-8-06: Queen Victoria is now considered as a cultivar of L. cardinalis.
Short lived, clump forming perennial of garden origin.
Has lance shaped, glossy, deep purple/red leaves and stems. Bears red, two lipped flowers on tall stems.
Flowers August-October
Requires a moist, fertile soil in full sun or partial shade. Is very happy in bog gardens.
Sadly not reliably winter hardy and may benefit from being brought in over winter in frost prone areas.
Queen Victoria has been given an RHS Award of Garden Merit, deservedly so in my opinion. The leaves alone are worth growing the plant for and the bright red flower spikes are very striking too.
The sap of this plant (as with all Lobelia) can irritate sensetive skins.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Clayton, California Roseville, California Susanville, California Evanston, Illinois Palmyra, Illinois Davenport, Iowa Mason, Michigan Saginaw, Michigan Byhalia, Mississippi Madison, Mississippi New Milford, New Jersey Southold, New York Elizabeth City, North Carolina Dayton, Ohio Whitehall, Pennsylvania Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania Saint Helena Island, South Carolina Mount Juliet, Tennessee Fort Worth, Texas Kalama, Washington Ocean Park, Washington Olympia, Washington
9 vendors have this plant for sale.
