About
String of Pearls' is a spreading annual to 25cm in height, with neat foliage and flowers in shades of light and deep blue, purple or white, some with a white eye.
About the genus
Lobelia can be annuals, perennials or shrubs, with simple leaves and showy 2-lipped flowers that may be solitary or in racemes or panicles
Growing conditions
SunlightFull sun, Partial shade
Soil typeLoam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, East-facing, North-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH2
Plant details
Plant typeAnnual Biennial, Bedding
HabitBushy
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.1-0.5 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height1-2 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Patio and container plants, Coastal, Cottage and informal garden
Care notes
CultivationGrow in deep, fertile, reliably moist soil in full sun or partial shade. Apply a balanced fertilizer every two weeks during spring and early summer and a nitrogen free fertilizer every two weeks from mid-summer onwards
PruningCut back after flowering
PropagationPropagate by seed sown at 13-18°C in late winter
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs
Disease resistanceGenerally disease-free