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Lobelia erinus or annual Lobelia is renown for it’s strong blue summer flowers that combine well with the white of Alysum. Thet are also capable of making a strong statement when grown in a container.

Description of Lobelia

• The single flowers of Lobelias have small, round leaves and flowers up to 1/2 inch in diameter.
• Some varieties are compact and mound forming whist others are grown for their trailing habit.
• Lobelia flowers from July until October in white, purple or blue shades and some varieties are bicoloured.
• Plants are low growing dependent on variety.
• The plants have a light airy and frail but are covered in flower.

Cultivation Tips for Lobelia

• Easy to grow from seed or buy as ready grown plants. Young plants can be slow and frustrating to develop.
• Lobelia grows best in cool areas.
• Space four to six inches apart in the garden or in containers.
• Sow 3mm (1/8in) deep in early spring at 70-75F in a good seed compost. Keep soil damp but not wet, sealing in a polythene bag after sowing is helpful.
• Germination usually takes 15-21 days. When seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant and grow on in cooler conditions.
• Gradually acclimatise to outdoor conditions for 10-15 days before planting out after all risk of frost
• Lobelia like well-drained but light yet moist soil in a cool spot.
• Can be grown as pot or container plants in cool well ventilated areas with plenty of light.

Creative commons from daryl_mitchell/2645365189/

Special Growing Tips for Lobelia

• Use Lobelia for edging borders in formal planting or as spot colour in rock gardens, or in front of taller plantings beside walks and pathways.
• Trailing Lobelia are among the best plants for window boxes, pouches and all types of containers.
• Older varieties in Ultra Cascade mix, flower early and fade, whilst the newer varieties last longer, so mixed together you’ll have a full season of stunning lobelia colour.
• Keep Lobelia well watered.

Varieties, Species and Types of Lobelia

• Mounding forms such as Crystal Palace have deep-blue flowers and bronze foliage
• Cambridge Blue has sky-blue flowers and Rosamund flowers cherry-red.
• Favourite trailers such as Blue Fountain ahve deep-blue petals with white eyes.
• Blue Cascade and White Cascadeare appropriately named.
• ‘Superstar’ whose flowers are truly dramatic with unusually large bloom in deep indigo blue with a bright white eye is a relative new comer.

Horticulture Sources and Advice

• You can often obtain seeds or plants from our mail order company of choice see here for Thompson & Morgan’s selection
• Lobelia like cooler conditions and tolerate poor soils.
• From Gardeners Tips 2009 Tips for Growing Lobelia: