Eye-catching deep maroon foliage, dark red blooms late summer.

We have ours growing in shade and partial shade.  Doesn't like to dry out, in our experience

Not hardy at all to my climate, I can't overwinter this and so I treat this as an annual in my garden.

Easy to grow from seed, I intend to grow this every year as an annual.  The seedlings have very little purple colouring, it's kind of cool when you put them in some sun, and then watch them turn dark purple.

Grows roughly 18" in height, erect growth habit - spread of 10".

Photos I have seen of Lobelia x speciosa ' Queen Victoria', and, Lobelia splendens 'Queen Victoria', both of which are hardy to only zone 7, look identical to this plant I grew from seed, and may be closely related to my plant.  I am somewhat skeptical about the seed catalogue getting this plant's species correct (i.e. somewhat skeptical my plant is indeed a variety of L. cardinalis).  

Glen's score:  7.

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