Lobelia
- Height × spread
- 0.15m – 1.2m × 0.15m – 1m
- Position
- Full sun
Availability
Generally available in late Spring & Summer
Many plants are seasonal. Call 01234 567890 to check current stock.
About this plant
Known for its low-growing trailing habit, cascading over walls, in hanging basket and pots, fantastic for long lasting vibrant summer colour. Some varieties have upright spikes of flowers, growing up to 1m tall. Flowering summer to autumn, attracting pollinators to the garden. The foliage varies from green through to rich red and purple. Can be grown in sun or some shade.
- Flower colour
- Blue, Brown, Lavender, Lilac, Mauve, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Violet, White
- Foliage colour
- Brown, Green, Purple, Red
- Variegated
- No
- Scent
- No
- Shape
- Bell, Column, Dome
- Height
- 0.15m – 1.2m
- Spread
- 0.15m – 1m
- Season of interest
- Summer, Autumn
- Evergreen
- Evergreen
- Garden style
- Water garden, Prairie garden, Exotic garden
- Sun or shade
- Likes full sun, tolerates part shade, tolerates light shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam (normal)
- Soil pH
- All types
- Drainage
- Moisture retentive soil, Damp and wet soil
- Winter hardiness
- Varies, some are not hardy
- Borders & containers
- Borders
- Water depth
- Varieties differ
- Use for
- Ground cover, Bedding plant, Bee attraction, Butterfly attraction
- Hazards
- Yes, some poisonous
Spring
Spring - late · Outdoors
Feed with slow release fertiliser
Apply a general purpose slow release fertiliser, spreading it around the root area of the plant as it is coming into growth. (Or apply a liquid feed at regular intervals throughout the growing season.)
This is a simple way to provide a nutrient boost as a single annual procedure.
Spring-Autumn · Outdoors
Water in dry periods
Established plants in the ground can cope with 7-10 days of dryness, and shrubs often manage 2 to 3 weeks. Water one section of the garden thoroughly each day rather than a little everywhere. Check plants in pots more often, especially in hot weather.
Planting & general
Outdoors
Feed & mulch some rose varieties differently
To keep roses healthy and produce more flowers, feed during the growing season before and after flowering. Roses in containers should be fed more often than those planted in the ground, every two weeks from mid spring to late summer. Adding a mulch around the base of a rose will trap moisture and enrich the soil as it biodegrades.
Outdoors
Water some varieties differently
Some plants within this genus have additional requirements for water. It is best to look up your specific plant, or the species it belongs to for watering guidance.
Planting
Prune some varieties
Some plants within this genus have additional requirements for pruning. It is best to look up your specific plant, or the species it belongs to for pruning guidance.
Compost · Planting
Multi-purpose compost
Use a good quality peat-free multi-purpose compost when growing in pots and containers.
Found in
More Lobelia
Lobelia cardinalis
Cardinal flower, Indian pink, Red birds, Scarlet lobelia
Lobelia cardinalis 'Queen Victoria'
Cardinal flower, Indian pink, Red birds, Scarlet lobelia
Lobelia x speciosa 'Fan Blau'
Hardy bronze leaf lobelia
Lobelia x speciosa 'Fan Scharlach'
Hardy bronze leaf lobelia
Lobelia x speciosa 'Hadspen Purple'
Hardy bronze leaf lobelia
Lobelia 'Compton Pink'
Hardy lobelia
Lobelia Lobelix Blue = 'INLOBLXBLE'
Lobelia cardinalis
Cardinal flower, Indian pink, Red birds, Scarlet lobelia