They transplant easily and I have done it often. My seeds usually scatter further but just gently tease them apart and you should have no trouble. This year you could also gather the seed and scatter where you want them. They are one of my favorites.

They may not actually be true seedlings: Lobelia cardinalis often forms basal "offsets" from the "mother" plant in fall, usually when the original root crown dies. The offsets are pretty easy to divide and transplant, as each will have its own root system. I've done it numerous times in early spring with a lot of success.

Thank you, peren.all. sah67, that's interesting that they may be basal offsets from the mother plant rather than new seedlings. If they are offsets, the thought comes to me that they must get produced at a spacing that would be appropriate to support the development of new plants. Or am I attributing too much farsightedness to the plant world? Here's a photo. Whether they're new seedlings or offsets, they do look much too close together.

So if they're offsets, I assume I'd notice some sort of stolon between each new plant and the mother? I'll go outside and look at them shortly, but from looking at my photo right now, I'm not sure I can see a mother plant.

Thanks for all the help--this will be interesting to explore.

You are most welcome Rick. The largest at the back looks to have at least one offset but the rest appear to be seedlings. That is a nice grouping. The plants are not large so you would not need to move many. It is up to you if you want to spread them around or have some closer together for impact. Please keep us updated on the plants and how they do.

Most of mine in partial shade are about 18" tall but I have some that are over 5' that get full sun. I let them seed pretty much where they want only moving ones that grow in walkways.

Here are a couple more clumps that I'm now seeing scattered around nearby. I'd be pleased as punch to leave these all as they are. I hadn't considered the possibility that they still could grow reasonably well spaced as closely as they are, and that it would give me a nice clump with real dramatic impact. They wouldn't limit each other's growth being so close? With another type of flower, I would normally separate them if I saw seedlings this close, but the idea of having a few gorgeous clusters of Cardinal Flower in my beds is extremely appealing.

In your most recent pics above (pic1) if it was me I would move just the smallest ones to the outer edges of the clump. They are a bit jammed together.

pic 2 is perfect. You are going to have a really great display.