Lobelia Cardinalis Wavy

The same plant, crimped. Lobelia cardinalis 'Wavy' carries the leaf size of ordinary Cardinal Plant but with curled, ruffled edges and a denser, bushier habit — a texture difference you notice immediately in a group planting. It is a recent selection and still uncommon in the trade.

What You'll Receive

Sold as loose fresh-cut plants, bunched plants, or potted plants:

• Fresh-Cut Plants: Approximately 3 individual, loose-cut stems without root
• Bunched Plants: Approximately 3 stems without root bundled with foam and a plant weight
• Potted Plants: Approximately 3 stems without root potted in rockwool and net pot

Plant Profile

• Common name — Wavy Lobelia Cardinalis
• Scientific name — Lobelia cardinalis 'Wavy'
• Also known as — Wavy Cardinal Plant
• Origin — Cultivated selection; the species is native to the Americas
• Placement — Foreground to midground
• Shipped size — Approx. 3 emersed-grown stems, no roots
• Mature height — 2–6 in
• Suits — 10 gallons and up
• Growth rate — Slow

Care

• Difficulty — Beginner
• Light — Medium to high. Stronger light keeps it compact and bushy
• CO₂ — Not required. It grows denser and faster with it
• Water — 68–82°F · pH 6.0–7.5
• Substrate — Required. Nutrient substrate or root tabs for strong roots
• Growth habit — Amphibious. Also grows emersed
• Propagation — Cuttings — trimming the main shoot triggers side shoots

Grower's Notes

• The color you see on arrival is not the color you keep. We grow it emersed, where leaf tops are green and the undersides flush red-purple. Submerged it settles to lush green and the wavy edges become the feature instead. Neither state is wrong — it is the plant converting.
• Trim the main shoot early. Cutting it triggers multiple side shoots, and that is what produces the dense ruffled cushion this selection is bought for. Left untopped it grows as a single stem and the effect is lost.
• It is slow. That makes it well behaved in a small tank and a poor choice if you want quick coverage.
• Feed at the roots. Lobelia roots strongly and stays short and pale in inert gravel.
• A single well-branched plant works as a foreground focal point; several planted together suit a Dutch-style row. Compare with the much larger Lobelia sp. 'Giant' if you need height instead.

Notes

• Minor leaf melting or color transition is normal when adjusting from emersed to submerged growth. Healthy stems will regrow and adapt to their underwater environment.
• Never release aquarium plants into natural waterways.

At a glance

• Free shipping on orders of $150 or more (after discounts) within the contiguous United States, by USPS.
• Free thermal protection is included with every shipment, all year round.
• Processing: most orders leave us within 1 to 2 business days. Tracking is emailed when your order ships.
• USPS (2 to 5 business days) ships Monday through Saturday.
• UPS 2nd Day Air® ships Monday through Wednesday. Order by Tuesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• UPS Next Day Air® ships Monday through Thursday. Order by Wednesday at 6:00 AM Pacific Time for same-week delivery.
• Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and military addresses ship by USPS at a flat rate shown at checkout.
• Weather holds: during extreme heat or cold we may hold live orders until it's safe to ship.
• We ship within the United States only.

Please bring live plants indoors and unpack them the day they arrive. Every live order is covered by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee.

The complete rules, including lost packages and address issues, are in our Shipping Policy. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Every live order is backed by our 24-Hour Live Arrival Guarantee. If a plant arrives dead, we'll make it right.

How it works

• Tell us within 24 hours of the delivery time on your tracking.
• Send photos of the affected items in their original, unopened packaging, plus a photo of the shipping label, to hello@aquariumplantsfactory.com with your order number.
• We'll make it right with a replacement, store credit or refund for the affected item.

Good to know

• Some melting or yellowing as plants adjust from greenhouse to aquarium life is normal. They regrow from healthy roots and rhizomes.
• Please bring your package indoors and unpack it the day it arrives.
• Free promotional items and shipping charges are not covered.

The complete rules, including what's covered and what voids the guarantee, are in our Returns, Refunds & Live Arrival Guarantee. If anything conflicts, that policy applies.

Please review your state's regulations on restricted plants, as we are committed to not shipping plants that are restricted in your area. Do not release any plants into the wild or waterways, as this can harm local ecosystems by introducing invasive species.

Your cooperation in protecting the environment is appreciated. For continuously updated information, refer to the USDA State Noxious Weed list here.

Thank you for your responsible commitment to environmental preservation.