This is the Cardinal Flower I brought home from the greenhouse this spring and wondered at the time if it would straighten up.  The Cardinal Flowers were all nice plants this year but some were growing slanted in their containers.  The one I had planted a couple years ago didn't survive.  Now I know we say "Don't Drown those bog plants" so I should know better.  But too much water did it in, so I tried another.  This year I'm glad to report it bloomed and flourished.  It didn't straighten up until it started to bloom.  I transplanted it after several weeks from its pot directly into my bog area and hoped that it wasn't too late to prevent it from blooming.  I had wanted to give it some time to adjust to the water depth before I planted it directly in the pond but then I just got too busy to plant it.      Look how gorgeous the flowers are.  I think its a winner!

Not only did it get one flower but I have several more getting ready to bloom.  Now that its established it will spread to even a healthlier plant by next year.  At least that's my hope.

This plant is an excellent water plant for stream beds, bogs or edges of your pond.  It grows to about 6"-12" high out of the water and is a fast grower.  It leaves are usually shiny and can be anywheres from 3 inches to only 1/2 inch in diameter.  This plant is useful in the water garden because of its quick ability to create shade over the pond and grows running stems that will float out over the water surface.  It creates a soft edge between water and taller plants such as the cattails, iris or sweet flags. 

It will grow well in sun to part shade and is hardy in Zones 5-11.  It grows best in moist soil to water no more than 4 inches deep.

Dwarf cattail are miniature cattails, a direct replica of the regular cattail, it is  best  for  smaller ponds or water containers.  They have dark grassy foliage and chunky, rounded, dark brown seed heads.  Dwarf cattail are not invasive.  They like moist soil to 2 inches of water in full sun.   They will grow to approximately 18 inches in height.  They flower during the summer, but the main attraction comes in the fall when the brown heads appear.  Dividing cattails should be done in the early spring.

Buy dwarf cattail,hardy bog plant here.