Lobelia erinus
Are you looking for a compact and reliable annual to tally some lustrous splashes of color throughout the garden , even in the cool or shady spots ?
An old - fashioned charmer , garden lobelia fits the bill dead .
It flower in nonstop wave of brilliant blues , pinks , purple , and white all summertime long , and has pretty , dainty foliage .
L. cardinalis, cardinal flower.
This industrial plant is notable for having two different growth habit available , and gives wonderful versatility in the garden or containers .
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stocky varieties with an upright growth wont are a natural for edging or as filler in bloom bottom .
L. cardinalis, cardinal flower.
And the trailing varieties have a lush , spreading habit that are brilliant cascade down out of containers , hanging baskets , and window box – or spilling over rockeries and retaining walls .
Plus , they ’re fast - uprise and easy to cultivate from seed at home .
vivacious and virtually pest destitute , you ’ll soon receive out why the Victorians got cabbage on these delightful , low - maintenance plant !
Here ’s everything you need to know about how to found and growLobelia erinus .
What You’ll Learn
Cultivation and History
L. erinusis one of over 400 species in the genusLobelia . A dwarf species , it ’s usually know as annual , march , garden , or trailing lobelia .
It gives a lush and reliable display , making it extremely popular for containers , border edging , short - time of year filler , hanging baskets , rock garden , and window box .
This cutter perennial is typically grown as an yearly for its low-down and train increment habit that put up terrific cosmetic value anywhere it ’s embed .
A appendage of the bellflower orCampanulaceae family , the small tubelike flowers have a large , devotee - shaped low-pitched brim of three commingle sepal and a two - sepal upper lip in vivid shades of naughty , mauve , pinkish , violet , and livid .
The two - lipped flowers grow in large bunch and often feature attractive white eyes . Plant foliage is wakeful and lacy , with thin ovate leaves and serrate edges .
extremely attractive to butterflies and other pollinator , plants bloom from mid natural spring to other fall . They expand in cooler temperatures and make an first-class choice for areas with dappled or unclouded tone .
Lobelia can also be grown as a perennial where winter temperature remain above freezing .
In both the vertical and trailing variety , matured dimensions are typically four to nine inches marvelous with a spreading of eight to 16 inch .
Native to southern Africa , L. erinuswas first introduced into Holland from the Cape province of South Africa in the 1680s .
It made its way to England around 1760 and became a star of the Victorian “ bedding ” delirium – the lifelike blue devils were a favorite for mass planting in the front of large , colorful beds .
Thanks to its wild popularity with the Victorians , lobelia get in North American gardens in the mid-1800s .
Within the genus are somewell - get laid North American wildflowersthat make attractive perennial in the garden as well .
key efflorescence ( L. cardinalis ) , is a popular perennial for its magniloquent , flashy spikes of scarlet - crimson blossom .
cracking blue lobelia ( L. siphilitica ) , or low-spirited cardinal flower , is another perennial wild flower with long - long-lived , grandiloquent halt that sport vivid blue flowers .
Garden Lobelia Propagation
Lobelia ejaculate are exceedingly humble and fine - textured but are gentle to domesticate if start indoors eight to 12 weeks before transplanting out – generally , two to four weeks after your last Robert Frost date .
Direct sowing outdoors after the average last icing date in your area is possible , but germination is much less dependable and indoor sowing is recommended .
Because the seed is so all right , seedlings often entangle together and can be difficult to pull out apart when transplanting .
For this reason , pellet , or trays with 12 or 24 - cubicle plug insert , help to make transplantation easier – and with less plant loss .
These 12 - industrial plant trays are well suitable for starting lobelia . The class make for easy transplant and they come with a humidity covered stadium that attend sprouting .
source Starting Trays with Humidity Dome
Six - packs of tray areavailable at Home Depot .
Some nursery deal source as “ multi - seed pellet , ” with multiple tiny germ that are are coated in an inert substance to create a larger shot for easy sowing .
summate a good seed start mix to the cell camp and gently spit the source on top of the soil . apply a small spoon to disperse the seed as evenly as potential over the entire open area .
Do not cover seeds with soil , butgentlyfirm the planting culture medium down with your fingertips after seeding . source ask light to germinate .
post in a location with a bright lighting – orunder a grow lighter – and a territory temperature of 65 - 75 ° F . you may use a heat mat if required .
leave bottom lacrimation or body of water mildly with a mist atomiser to avoid upset the seeds . Keep the soil evenly moist but not wet .
cross with a clear toughie or place in a polythene bag to keep semen moist and warm . Germination pass in 15 to 21 days .
After four to six weeks , when seedlings are two to four inches marvellous , you’re able to start to step by step inure them off to educate them for out-of-door condition .
Despite their preference for cool weather condition , they wo n’t outlive a late fountain Robert Lee Frost – do n’t plant out until nighttime temperature remain consistently above 60 ° degree Fahrenheit .
To indurate off , place seedlings in a sheltered location outdoors for an time of day a day , and gradually extend the prison term they spend outside over the course of a week or two .
When transpose seedling or greenhouse starts into beds or container , plant life at the same astuteness and width as the container they are growing in . Space seedlings four to six column inch apart .
How to Grow Garden Lobelia Flowers
plant do well in full sun to part shade and require well - drain dirt enriched with constitutive matter .
Lobelia is adaptable to most soils but does best in slimly acid condition with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5
They flourish in the chilliness of springtime , and one-time form benefit from some spook in midsummer .
Newer cultivars have been developed for improved heat tolerance that sustain them blooming regardless of the temperature .
If the bloom display does decline in high heat , cutting industrial plant back encourages a uninterrupted efflorescence Seth .
In areas of extreme rut , the second moving ridge of heyday may be hold up until summer starts to cool down into downfall . gash plant life back by as much as one - third if needed .
Plants also require regular alimentation . An software of a balanced,10 - 10 - 10 ( NPK)water soluble plant food every two weeks throughout the develop time of year will keep them at their dependable .
Miracle - Gro All - Purpose Plant Food
Five - Egyptian pound container of Miracle - Gro all - function works food areavailable via Amazon .
Water on a regular basis , and keep moisture levels even , particularly during spicy spells . During these times , containers may want casual tearing to wield consistent soil wet .
But take care not to overwater into sogginess – especially in cool , damp , or besotted condition .
Pruning and Maintenance
Lobelia requires little care , but previous cultivars can suffer from dieback in uttermost high temperature .
If plants originate to fail , cut them back by as much as one - third , and provide some afternoon shadiness . Water and run regularly and they ’ll resile in a couplet of weeks .
Growing Tips
Keep the following tips in mind to get the most from your lobelia plants :
Garden Lobelia Cultivars and Series to Select
There are hundreds of lobelia varieties available . The following are some of the most popular for the home nurseryman .
Blue Carpet
‘ Blue Carpet ’ create an irresistible spread of sky blue prime that gives the star treatment to layer , containers , give ear baskets , and rockeries .
‘ Blue Carpet ’
A compact variety with a spreading habit , it grows four to five column inch tall with a six - inch spreading .
Seed packets areavailable at Eden Brothers .
Cambridge Blue
‘ Cambridge Blue ’ is dilute with eye - catch pulverization blue flowers that sparkle in containers or as an edger – it ’s the ideal plant to lighten up a shady niche .
‘ Cambridge Blue ’
Plants have a compact mannequin with upright growth of four to six column inch and a plushy spread of six to eight inches .
Pelleted seeds in packets of 1000 areavailable at True Leaf Market .
Crystal Palace
‘ Crystal Palace ’ is a Victorian charmer with mass of lilac - dark flowers that are attractively offset by the bronze - colour foliage .
‘ Crystal Palace ’
The compact plant have an upright growth of six to eight inch with a paste of six inches , and add bluff color to beds , containers , and rock garden .
Seed packets can bepurchased at Burpee .
Laguna Compact Blue
‘ Laguna Compact Blue ’ features an abundance of delightful laguna - dreary flowers with white oculus on succinct , semi - vertical plants .
Attractive and reliable , the Laguna series is engender for improved heat energy allowance for round-the-clock efflorescence in edge , containers , and rockeries justly up until first Robert Lee Frost .
‘ Laguna Compact Blue ’
plant grow eight to 12 inch tall with a gap of 10 to 12 inches .
Four - pack of plant areavailable at Home Depot .
Laguna Dark Blue
lot of cerulean blue flower bloom all summer on ‘ Laguna Dark Blue , ’ thanks to its improved hotness leeway .
‘ Laguna Dark Blue ’
Plants originate six to 12 inches , propagate 12 to 24 column inch , and drop behind up to 24 inch , create a splashy video display in containers , hang baskets , and window boxes .
Laguna White
‘ Laguna White ’ is highly heat tolerant , and features stark white flower with a gorgeous cascading habit that bloom all summertime .
‘ Laguna White ’
industrial plant spring up eight to 12 inches with a trail length of 24 inches – a grand , frothy addition for containers , hanging baskets , and window box seat .
semen areavailable at Nature Hills Nursery .
Lucia Ultraviolet
‘ Lucia Ultraviolet ’ gives fertile blooms of burnished Battle of Magenta that blossom all summertime long .
‘ Lucia Ultraviolet ’
The heat - tolerant plants are outstanding in container , attend baskets , and rock garden . They grow six to 12 inches tall , spread 12 to 24 inches , and hang back up to 24 inches .
Four - packs of works can bepurchased at Home Depot .
Rosamond
Showy and honest , ‘ Rosamond ’ has pretty flowers of rosy pink with white center , and a succinct , mound habit of four to six inches eminent .
‘ Rosamund ’
The stems circularise up to 16 inches for first-class secure people of colour as an edger or filler for beds , and in containers or window boxes as well .
Multi - seminal fluid pellets areavailable at True Leaf Market .
Sapphire
With deep sapphire - blue flowers and blink white eyes , ‘ Sapphire ’ is a lovely muffin for beds , containers , and rockery .
‘ Sapphire ’
The compact plants have a trailing habit , and mature four to nine inches high with a spread of six to nine inches . These make a handsome addition anywhere they can spill or diffuse .
Pelleted seeds areavailable at True Leaf Market .
Palace Series
The Palace series offers a assorted blend of plant in imperial shades of blue , blue with white optic , royal blue air , and white .
The mounding plant grow four to six inch tall with a dull , thick spread of six to eight inch . This cultivar is ideal as a spiller for container , hanging baskets , and in rock garden .
Regatta Series
The Regatta serial publication do a big undulation with a blend of the brightest colors – lilac , lilac splash , marine blue , midnight blue , rose , sky-blue , gamey sky , and white .
Plants have a mounding height of four to six in and a plush facing pages of six to eight inches – beautiful in beds and rock garden , or spraying from containers and window boxes .
Multi - seed pellet can bepurchased at True Leaf Market .
Managing Pests and Disease
Mature lobelia plants are typically sizable and suffer no serious problems due to disease or dirt ball pests .
heating plant - induced dieback in midsummer is the most vulgar problem . This can be avoided by providing plants with good afternoon wraith or turn heat - broad cultivars .
However , seedling can sometimes suffer from damping off – a fungal disease that have stem rot at – and below – the soil surface .
you could serve prevent damping off by sowing seeds as exquisitely as potential and improving air circulation around the seedlings . utilise a house rooter to provide a picnic if demand .
Learn more about damping off in this scout .
Keep the soil moist , but not wet , and bottom - water the seedling tray . Also , avoid getting the foliage pie-eyed and maintain even soil temperature for the healthiest surround .
Lobelia is also immune to large blighter , such asdeerandrabbits .
Best Uses for Garden Lobelia Flowers
The compact , mound cultivars with an erect form are well - suit for bed fronts , borders , edging , and unretentive - time of year fillers .
They can be added throughout butterfly stroke and stone garden – when used in - ground , aggregate plantings of a individual color have terrible visual appeal .
dog form are best suited for grow in containers , hanging handbasket , windowpane box , and on top of retaining wall – anywhere they can shed downwards to display their elegant , bright cascades .
Quick Reference Growing Guide
Reliable Splashes of Color
For industrial plant that add a reliable splash of color throughout the summertime , yearly lobelia is one of the best !
wanton to cultivate in sun or shadowiness , it ’s about pest - free , has a farsighted bloom time of year , and blossom colors are delicious .
You ’ll quickly come under the spell of this cheerful sweet talker as it brightens seam and container from natural spring until fall .
think of to give older varieties some afternoon nicety , or take from the new , heat tolerant varieties for a superb , nonstop flower display .
For more data aboutflowers for your garden , check out these grow guides next :
Photos by Lorna Kring © require the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more details . Originally publish August 3rd , 2020 . Last updated June 13th , 2023 . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
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Lorna Kring
