What is included in Lobelia cardinalis?

This Scaped For You collection comes complete with all the plants, wood, and rock needed to recreate the layout shown, plus an easy-to-follow diagram showing where to position each plant and piece of hardscape in your aquarium.

What size aquarium is Lobelia cardinalis designed for?

The recommended tank size is shown in the product title.

Is Lobelia cardinalis suitable for beginners?

Yes, this layout is rated Easy and is perfect for beginners to aquascaping. The plants are hardy, adaptable, and straightforward to care for.

How long does delivery take?

This is a special order item. Depending on plant availability, delivery typically takes 1–7 days from order. We offer Tracked 24 from £4.99 and DPD Express from £6.99. Orders placed before 4pm Monday to Friday are dispatched the same day where possible.

Best Seller

Best Seller

1 5

Lobelia cardinalis

Q: Does Lobelia cardinalis need CO2?

No CO2 injection is required. The plants in this layout have been specifically chosen to thrive in low-level lighting without CO2, making it ideal for a hassle-free low-tech setup.

Two-toned green and purple-red leaves on a compact Lobelia midground plant

Regular price: £7.99
Regular price
Sale price: £7.99

Quick Facts

Common name:

Origin: North America

Position in Aquarium: Midground

Grows up to (cm): 20 cm

Pot Size: 5 cm

Growth rate: Medium pace

Description

Lobelia cardinalis is a distinctive aquarium plant with small, spoon-shaped leaves displaying vivid green upper surfaces and contrasting deep purple-red undersides. When planted in groups and viewed from the front, the purple undersides catch the light to create striking colour pockets in the midground of planted layouts.

It grows best with medium light and CO2 supplementation, which encourage compact, bushy growth and the most vivid underside colouration. Without CO2 it can still be grown in a well-lit aquarium but tends to become more elongated and less compact. A nutritious substrate and regular liquid fertilisation keep the leaves vibrant.

Supplied as an established potted plant, Lobelia cardinalis suits aquariums from 50 litres upward in the midground. Its distinctive two-toned leaves and compact habit make it a popular choice for nature aquarium and Dutch aquarium style compositions where colour contrast between plant groups is a key design consideration.

Plant Sizes

You’ll receive a healthy, rooted plant in a pot, similar to those shown. Each one is hand-checked before dispatch.

Shipping

Same-day dispatch on orders placed before 4pm, Monday to Friday. Tracked 24 Service from £4.99, DPD Express from £6.99.

Customers praise this aquatic plant for arriving "very healthy" with vibrant red coloring and excellent packaging. The plant thrives in tanks, is easy to propagate, and adapts well without CO2. Some note fish may eat the leaves due to their appealing taste. Overall, shoppers describe it as hardy, beautiful, and great value.

A lovely plant. Very healthy. Quick delivery. A very helpful seller. Recommended.
Very well packaged and in a very healthy condition...the best that I have bought.
Arrived in excellent condition. Beautiful red veining on the leaves. Growing well.

5 stars: 113 (90%)
4 stars: 10 (8%)
3 stars: 1 (1%)
2 stars: 2 (2%)
1 star: 0 (0%)

Some of the reviews shown are from related products the merchant grouped with this one.

Good plants

Nice plants for my 25 litre tank, have bought these a few times, always grow fast & nice & a lovely colour.

Great plant in my tank always, great packaging

Great plant in my tank always, great packaging and quick delivery too always.

Fit:

Very bad

Very good

Tolerates Scottish soft water.

One of the few plants that can survive Scottish soft water. Would recommend for Scottish aquarists who are fed up buying plants that melt within a short period of time.

plant was up to you usual standard very good

plant was up to you usual standard very good .

Great service and excellent plant as ordered,

Great service and excellent plants as ordered, will happily use again.

Need to get some more

It's look very good in the fish tank need to get some more

All plants healthy, already grown an inch or so.

Lovely healthy plant

Plant received was tiny and didn't survive.

Plant received was absolutely tiny and sadly didn't grow at all. I wasn't expecting a huge plant but it was really small for the price paid.

Great

Such Good Plants - I Shall Be Back For More!

A lovely plant. Very healthy. Quick delivery. A very helpful seller. Recommended.

10 Out of 10 For This Plant!

A lovely plant. Very healthy. Quick delivery. A very helpful seller. Recommended.

Hygrophila

Usual prompt delivery and good quality plants, thriving in my aquarium after planting.

Lovely

Hardy and easy to look after according to website.
Only been in our brand new tank for a week but looks great.
Wish I had more money as I'd buy so many more plants from these guys! Amazing communication. Fantastic delivery. Plants arrived very healthy. Hopefully I can keep them that way!!! 🙏 🤞

PERFECT CONDITION

Arrived in absolute perfect condition and is already growing well a few days after putting it in my tank!

Small....

Gone downhill since I used last time very small poor quality plants disappointed for the money I paid.

Little hard to plant as roots are short, but the plant is healthy and doing well in aquarium

Excellent

These plants arrived in Excellent condition , Growing well in my tank

I was surprised and impressed by the size and the healthy condition of this plant.+ quick delivery.

AS ABOVE

Perfect condition beautiful plant growing fast

Looks lovely

Cryptocoryne willisii

5 potted plants received with excellent care instructions from seller. Postal delay caused 3 plants to arrive in poor condition. But followed instructions and they are all now showing lots of new leaves.
Thank you

Ordered via. telephone and forgot to order tissue culture type , received six stems in a pot , good condition and growing ok but with p&p cost was £10.45 .

Review

What can I say all the plants came in excellent condition growing well in the tank

Review

God this plants can grow ! Definetly fast growing and fills out nicely! Have trimmed it few times and cuttings easily get replanted and settled, definetly a great background plant to use, in any tank

Review

Lovely healthy strong plant. Many new shoots already & looking good.

Review

I have been buying plants from this company for several years now and recommend them to friends. The plants, as usual are of a very high standard with excellent delivery times.

Review

Looking good and healthy. Fingers crossed for a good carpet.

Review

Excellent healthy plant

Review

Beautiful plant, arrived in perfect condition, growing in a low tech aquarium without co2, i am very pleased with it.

Review

Delighted with delivery and plant arrived in excellent condition, I would certainly use this supplier again.

Product FAQs

Helpful details before you buy.

Does Lobelia cardinalis need CO2?

CO2 is recommended for the most compact, bushy growth and vivid purple underside colouration. Without it the plant can be grown but tends to grow more loosely and with less pronounced colour.

What light level does it need?

Medium light is the minimum. Better light combined with CO2 produces the most compact, colourful growth. In low light it becomes elongated and less attractive.

Can I see the purple underside when the plant is growing?

Yes. When planted in groups, the purple undersides of the leaves are clearly visible from the front of the aquarium, creating a distinctive colour effect.

How large does it grow?

It typically reaches 10–20 cm in height, making it well suited to the midground of most planted aquariums.

Is it easy to propagate?

Yes. Side shoots develop naturally and can be separated and replanted. Stem cuttings can also be taken and rooted in the substrate.

Best Seller

1 5

Lobelia cardinalis

Two-toned green and purple-red leaves on a compact Lobelia midground plant

Regular price: £7.99
Regular price
Sale price: £7.99

In stock

In-stock orders normally dispatch before 4pm, Monday–Friday. Delivery details

Complete your setup

Useful additions for your aquarium

Care essentials chosen for this plant

Healthier plants
Brighter results

Neutro T Aquarium Plant Fertiliser Recommended size

£10.99 Add

Root nutrition Neutro TerraTabs - Root Tabs for Planted Aquariums

Long-lasting nutrition
for strong, healthy roots.

Recommended size

£9.99 Add

Superfish Aquarium Plant Tweezers Recommended size

£4.99 Add

Useful additions for planting day Carefully packed with your plants Specialist aquarium plant care

Bundle offers

About this plant

Product FAQs

Does Lobelia cardinalis need CO2?

CO2 is recommended for the most compact, bushy growth and vivid purple underside colouration. Without it the plant can be grown but tends to grow more loosely and with less pronounced colour.

What light level does it need?

Medium light is the minimum. Better light combined with CO2 produces the most compact, colourful growth. In low light it becomes elongated and less attractive.

Can I see the purple underside when the plant is growing?

Yes. When planted in groups, the purple undersides of the leaves are clearly visible from the front of the aquarium, creating a distinctive colour effect.

How large does it grow?

It typically reaches 10–20 cm in height, making it well suited to the midground of most planted aquariums.

Is it easy to propagate?

Yes. Side shoots develop naturally and can be separated and replanted. Stem cuttings can also be taken and rooted in the substrate.

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Again perfect plant beautifully marked , very pleased as always!

Again perfect plant beautifully marked, very clean and healthy always carefully packaged, excellent service from Aqua Essentials, always pleased with their quality live plants.

Have been using this site for a long time, always

Have been using this site for a long time, always packaged great, obvs have had the odd few that have arrived not as great, you get what you pay for, obvs not cheap but worth it they thrive in my tank each time.

Quick effective and all in order

Quick effective and all in order. Plants in individual pockets within a further package bag all inside a generous sized postage package. All plants looking healthy so fingers crossed all with grow and give viewing pleasure for years to come

I received my order promptly and very well packaged and am very pleased with tue service and

I received my order promptly and very well packaged and am very pleased with tue service and prpducts. I am especially pleased with the plant which is extremely clean and healthy and potted up beautifully.

I ordered a tropica 1-2 grow Anubius barteri nana and some water spangles

I ordered a tropica 1-2 grow Anubius barteri nana and some water spangles, both plants were healthy.

The water spangles has a couple snails on them but thats to be expected.

The only issue i faced was with tracking my order, but that may have been on Royal Mail's side.

Beat that algae today

Fertilisers for Healthier Plant Growth

Lobelia cardinalis

Product FAQs

Lobelia cardinalis

Complete your setup

About this plant

Product FAQs

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