Lobelia erinus aka Lobelia

Taxonomy

Genus Lobelia Family Campanulaceae Order Asterales Class Magnoliopsida Phylum Tracheophyta
Lobelia erinus, also known as edging lobelia, garden lobelia, or trailing lobelia, is a species of flowering plant in the bellflower family Campanulaceae, native to southern Africa. It is a trailing, tender perennial that is often grown as an annual. The plant features fine, spreading stems, tiny mid-green leaves, and an abundance of small, bright blue flowers from late spring until autumn. With thin basal leaves and deep blue, purple, or white flowers, Lobelia erinus is commonly used in window boxes or as an edging plant in gardens. It is native to South Africa and has been cultivated since the 1600s, resulting in numerous hybrids. There are two main varieties, a long trailing plant and a shorter, compact variety. The shorter edging lobelia rarely exceeds six inches in height, while the trailing habit lobelia can grow up to 12 inches with leggy growth. With its delicate stems and thin leaves, lobelia can spread up to a couple of feet, making it ideal for border edging. It blooms in the summer, producing an abundance of little flowers in various colors such as white, pink, purple, violet, or blue, each with a white eye.

Common names

Lobelia, Garden Lobelia, Trailing Lobelia

How to care for Lobelia

Difficulty

If you're looking for a plant that offers a moderate level of challenge, Lobelia is a great choice to test your gardening skills.

Water

Lobelia should be watered regularly, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Soil

Lobelia loves a well-draining soil. Perlite and vermiculite help with drainage, while coco coir adds organic matter, so a good potting soil mix will have all three. You can improve store-bought soil by adding some perlite to it.

Lighting

Lobelia requires abundant, bright, and direct light to thrive. The best placement for this plant is within one foot of a window to ensure it receives enough light. If you live in an area with more extreme weather, such as hot summers or cold winters, you may need to adjust the placement of the plant accordingly. During hot summer months, it is important to place the plant away from full sun, as this can cause the leaves to yellow or burn. During cold winter months, it is best to move the plant closer to the window to take advantage of the extra light that can help it survive. By keeping an eye on the current weather in your area, you can make sure your Garden Lobelia is always in the right place to thrive.

Toxicity

Lobelia is poisonous if ingested. We suggest keeping this plant out of reach if you have children, cats, or dogs in the home.

Growth-pattern

New growth will sprout from the top of the Lobelia as it grows vertically.

More info:
Wikipedia

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More Species in Lobelia Genus

Lobelia tupa Devil's Tobacco

Lobelia excelsa Lobelia Excelsa

Lobelia laxiflora Mexican Lobelia

Lobelia anceps

Lobelia jasionoides Lobelia Jasionoides

Lobelia coronopifolia

Lobelia trigonocaulis Lobelia Trigonocaulis

Lobelia inflata Indian Tobacco

Lobelia pedunculata Matted Pratia

Lobelia spicata Balespike Lobelia