Help Growing Lobelia

Help Growing Lobelia

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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.

Lobelia
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

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