The Advantages of Water Plants | TN Nursery

Cardinal Flower

The Red Cardinal Flower has vibrant red blooms and tall, erect stalks; it adds a splash of color and a touch of elegance to gardens, parks, and various outdoor spaces. Beyond its aesthetic appeal, it brings several advantages, making it a popular choice for landscapers and gardeners. Cardinal Flower The scarlet-hued Lobelia cardinalis is a perennial in the bellflower family. Its tall, nectar-filled flower spikes attract hummingbirds and create a beautiful display in your garden. The plant's common name refers to the red robes a Roman Catholic cardinal wears. Natural Habitat Of The Cardinal Flower Lobelia is native to the North and South American continents and blooms from July through September. This moisture-loving plant grows on stream banks and in low woods, marshes, and meadows across the United States. Appearance Of The Cardinal Flower If you want to create a handsome show in your garden, Lobelia is sure to delight. The plant's fiery spires yield brilliant red blooms that open gradually from the bottom to the top of their racemes. Each long, narrow, tube-shaped blossom has two flat upper petals and three lower petals that spread out at the tips. The delicate plant crown leafy 2’-4' stems, covered with shiny, lance-shaped, bright green leaves that sometimes have a bronze or reddish tint. The leaves alternate as they climb the stems, enhancing the blooms to create a lively riot of color. Cardinal Flower In the Garden Lobelia is a favorite of gardeners who love adding bold splashes of crimson to their garden. This plant is perfect for shady woodland plots, wet meadow plantings, water gardens, pollinator gardens, and rain gardens. Its long stems can add height to borders and create depth when placed in the back sections of your landscape. The blossoms are most spectacular from midsummer into fall, and they make excellent cut blooms. Ecology Of The Cardinal Flower Some people say that Lobelia will bring hummingbirds in from the sky. The plant's blooming period is in sync with the late-summer migration of ruby-throated hummingbirds who are traveling south to Mexico. The birds pollinate the plant by dipping their beaks into the plants' long, red tubes. The blossoms are also very attractive to swallowtail butterflies and bees, making them a wonderful centerpiece in a pollinator garden. Cardinal Flower Will Make a Brilliant Statement in Your Garden When you want to make a bold, beautiful statement in your garden, be sure to include Lobelia in your plan and celebrate the summer season.

Lily Pads

Lily Pads are round, flat, floating leaves of aquatic plants, typically green in color, providing a resting place for frogs and a picturesque element in ponds and water gardens. They are often associated with serene ponds and water gardens, they offer unique benefits when strategically incorporated into landscaping designs. Their aquatic nature, ability to create captivating reflections, contributions to ecosystem health, and role in enhancing the visual and sensory experience make them valuable to outdoor spaces. Lily pads are clusters of aquatic plants with leaves and blooms that grow in ponds, water gardens, and natural bodies of water. They root in the soil at the bottom of quiet, freshwater habitats. There are many reasons to cultivate these uncommonly alluring plants. The Extraordinary Beauty Of Lily Pads If you want breathtaking plants and a unique landscape, consider them. The magnificent blossoms burst forth through the surface of the water with bold flowers in a rainbow of colors from bright white, pale pink, and rich red to yellow and even blue. Large green leaves provide a stunning backdrop for these graceful flowers. The delicate petals and intricate stamens create a visually exquisite display that can grace your landscape with something very special. The Spiritual Symbolism Of Lily Pads Lilies represent resurrection, rebirth, purity, and enlightenment. From the muck at the bottom of the pond, they emerge triumphantly, transformed into extraordinary blossoms. They have long been associated with higher qualities of consciousness like enlightenment and spiritual awakening. Some cultures associate the plants with grace, beauty, harmony, and serenity. In Buddhism and Hinduism, the pads have spiritual significance. In ancient Egypt, they were thought to repel negative entities, while Christians saw them as symbols of life, energy, and vitality. The Hardy Leaves and Blooms Of Lily Pads The leaves can be round, oval, or heart-shaped, and they float on the surface of the water. The leaves are supported by long stalks that emerge from thick, fleshy underwater roots. The leaves have a waxy coating that repels water while keeping them dry and buoyant. The size of the leaves varies by species. They range from a few inches to one foot in diameter. The flowers have delicate petals arranged in layers around a disk. The petals can be single or double-layered. The Strong Roots Of Lily Pads Visible blooms and leaves can completely cover the surface of a body of water. The showy display is supported by strong roots made of fleshy rhizomes that secure the plants in the muddy substrate at the bottom of the water. The rhizomes produce slender roots that absorb nutrients in the water and further secure the plant in its position. The plant is important in aquatic ecosystems, where it can be a primary food source and desirable habitat for fish and small animals alike.