Lobelia - Carninal Flower
Lobelia | Carninal Flower - colorful annual or perennial flower for the border, cottage garden or used as a naturalized wildflower.
| Campanula | Perennial or Annual |
|---|---|
| Bloom Time | Throughout Summer |
| Light | Sun, Part Sun |
| Water | Moist Fertile Soil |
| Diseases | Leaf Spots, Rust, Smut |
| Pests | Aphids, Slugs, Nematodes, Wireworms, Leafhoppers |
| Propagation | Division and Seed |
| Color | Blue, White, Pink, Purple, Red |
| Zones | 2-10 |
| Features | Flowers, Attractive Foliage, Fall Color, Cut Flowers, Attracts Hummingbirds, Attracts Butterflies, Tolerates Wet Soil |
- Lobelia cardinalis ‘Heirloom’ One of our most revered wildflowers. Blooms in early fall of its second year, corresponding with the southern migration of hummingbirds, which it has been known to "pull from the sky." First-year plants grow a single rosette, which multiplies in the second year. Prefers moist areas. Zones 3- 9.
We have showcased here both the Perennial and Annual types of Lobelia.
The Perennial type of lobelia is a tall-growing butterfly magnet and is often naturalized for wildlife gardens.
Lobelia typically have tube-shaped flowers, shped by two lips and as a result of this are great hummingbird attractors as well.
In cold areas of the country, the plant should be protected from cold winter winds and you should give it a thick layer of mulch. With the tall growing spiked flowers, they look great around structures and that will give them the needed protection that they desire during the winter months.
The plants are pretty good self-seeders, which is great because they tend to be short lived.
The annual variety of Lobelia is a great flower for the wildflower garden, a naturalized path or cottage garden. They tend to be mostly blue colored and are lower growing thany their perennials cousins.
Still a welcome and beautiful addition to the garden, be sure you do not pass on the annual species of the Lobelia as their rich blue colors are hard to beat in the border.
Sow seeds of annuals in late winter.
Sow perennials when seeds are ripe.
Propagate aquatic species by division in summer. Divide border perennials in spring.
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Lobelia valida
A very showy plant with true blue flowers. Worldwide they are sought after, a rare colour to find in a flower. The colour is striking by itself, breathtaking in mass and always a wonderful contrast to most other colours. Lobelia valida has deep blue flowers throughout summer, a superb perennial for the garden.
The perennial version of Lobeia makes for a great background plant, such as up against a structure or a foundation.
With some varieties reaching 3 to 4 feet tall they can easily be toward the back of the border.
Annual Lobelias are great for the cottage garden or useful as a plant along a meandering garden path, as they tend to be shorter plants.
Use Lobelia in a wildflower garden as they look fastastic naturalized. Their tendency to self-sow is also a great asset for naturalizing.
Primrose
Near ponds and streams, spring blooming primroses of many sorts are charming their white, pink or yellow flowers, often in tiers one above the other. Later on lobelias bring interest to the same area.
Iris
The glorious open flowers of Japanese iris bloom with the earliest lobelias with a contrast in flower shape. Both thrive in damp soil.
Astilbe
Astilbes bloom with fluffy plumes of red, pink, or white flowers just ahead of lobelias, which then carry the colorful interest into fall. They enjoy similar conditions.
Turtlehead
The rounded mounds of handsome dark foliage and inflated pink or white flowers of turtlehead make fine companions for lobelias where soil is rich and damp
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Lobelia siphilitica 'Blue Cardnal Flower' Spires of colorful hood-like flowers on stately spikes in late summer and fall. Likes moist soil. Will naturalize alond ditches and streams. Butterflies and hummingbirds like them too!
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Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) has upright 3-foot stems clothed with 3- to 4-inch long, lance-shaped dark green leaves. Brilliant red flowers are borne in loose spires. Zones 2-8
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Fan Salmon lobelia (Lobelia 'Fan Salmon') bears warm salmon-pink flowers with contrasting bronze foliage. It grows 2 feet tall. Zones 4-8
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Fan Scarlet lobelia (Lobelia 'Fan Scarlet') is a stunning selection with bronze foliage and scarlet-red flowers. It grows 2 feet tall. Zones 4-8
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Lobelia - 'Monet Moment'
'Monet Moment' has immense rose pink flowers and is a nicely vigorous plant. Very colorful!
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Blue Wings lobelia (Lobelia tenuior 'Blue Wings') bears large blue flowers on a mounding plant perfect for hanging baskets. It grows 10 inches tall.
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Magadi Blue lobelia (Lobelia erinus 'Magadi Blue') offers better heat tolerance than most lobelias. It offers soft blue flowers and grows 10 inches tall.
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Magadi Blue with White Eye lobelia (Lobelia erinus 'Magadi Blue with White Eye') is a sister to 'Magadi Blue' and also has great heat tolerance. It offers soft blue flowers marked with a white throat. It grows 10 inches tall.
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Riveria blue lobelia (Lobelia erinus 'Riviera Series') bears flowers in a wide range of blue shades (as well as lilac, rose, and white) on vigorous, mounding plants.
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Riviera Midnight Blue lobelia (Lobelia erinus 'Riviera Midnight Blue') bears dark blue flowers and bronze-tinged flowers on vigorous, mounding plants.
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Riviera White lobelia (Lobelia erinus 'Riviera White') bears pure-white flowers on vigorous, mounding plants.
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Regatta Rose lobelia (Lobelia erinus 'Regatta Rose') bears brilliant carmine-rose flowers with a white center on trailing plants.
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Regatta Sapphire blue lobelia (Lobelia erinus 'Regatta Sapphire') bears clear blue flowers with a white center on trailing plants..
Lobelia Fan Salmon
A clump-forming perennial which features salmon, tubular, 2-lipped flowers with the three lobes of the lower lip appearing more prominent than the two lobes of the upper lip.
Flowers arise from the upper leaf axils forming a dense terminal raceme atop stiff, unbranched, leafy stalks typically rising 2-3' tall. Finely-toothed, lance-shaped, light green leaves (to 5 inches long). Also sometimes commonly called Great Lobelia flower.
Spacing: Space 12 - 18" apart when planting or naturalize.
Fertilizer: To enhance flowering, implement a balanced liquid fertilizer biweekly between spring and early summer. From there, apply a nitrogen-free fertilizer biweekly til the end of the growing season.
Soil/Water Requirements: Rich, constantly moist soil. Marshy spots or along streams or ponds work well. Aquatic species prefer acidic soil.
