About
An upright, clump-forming, deciduous herbaceous perennial with green, finely toothed, lance-shaped leaves. Long-lasting spikes of blue flowers appear on sturdy, upright stems from late summer through until mid autumn.
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 typeChalk, Clay, Loam, Sand
Soil pHAcid, Alkaline, Neutral
Soil moistureMoist but well-drained
AspectSouth-facing, East-facing, West-facing
ExposureExposed, Sheltered
UK hardinessH5
Plant details
Plant typeHerbaceous Perennial
HabitClump forming, Columnar upright
FoliageDeciduous
Height0.5-1 metres
Spread0.1-0.5 metres
Time to full height2-5 years
Suggested usesCity and courtyard gardens, Cottage and informal garden
Native toEastern N America
ToxicityHarmful if eaten, skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten, skin irritant. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Care notes
CultivationPlant in deep, fertile, reliably moist soil in sun or partial shade. Feed every 2 weeks with a balanced liquid fertilizer until midsummer and a low nitrogen fertilizer for the remainder of the growing season. Protect the crown of the plant during winter with a thick, dry mulch
PruningCut down faded flower spikes in autumn
PropagationPropagate by division of large clumps of plants every second year in the spring
Pest resistanceMay be susceptible to slugs
Disease resistanceMay be susceptible to crown rot and a virus