Lobelia tupa aka Devil's Tobacco

Lobelia tupa, or devil's tobacco, comes from south-central Chile. It belongs to the bellflower family, Campanulaceae. This perennial has a woody base and sheds its leaves. In the wild, it grows on wooded slopes. It also grows in open ground and among shrubs. Its native range has a temperate climate.

In gardens, it reaches about 5–8 feet [1.5–2.5 metres] tall. Its spread is about 1.6–3.3 feet [0.5–1 metre]. The RHS describes upright stems reaching 6.6 feet [2 metres]. These give the plant a tall, narrow shape. Narrow, hairy leaves have a grey-green shade. They can reach about 1 foot [0.3 metres] long. Plants take two to five years to reach full size.

Bright red flowers appear in late summer and autumn. The tubular blooms grow in racemes at the stem tips. Each flower can reach about 0.2 feet [0.06 metres] long. The tall stems suit flower beds and mixed borders. The RHS also suggests courtyard, coastal, and informal gardens. Borders beside walls are another listed use. PFAF includes sunny woodland edges and sites with dappled shade.

For cultivation, the RHS recommends full sun and fertile soil. Choose a sheltered spot, such as a south-facing border. Good drainage matters across the listed soil types. These include chalk, clay, loam, and sand. Acid, neutral, and alkaline soils are all suitable. The RHS gives it a UK hardiness rating of H4. PFAF lists USDA zones 7–10. Cut stems back once flowering has finished. Sow seed in late winter at 15–18°C. Basal cuttings may work, but plants produce few suitable shoots. Slugs may attack it, though the RHS reports few disease problems.

This plant is not a food crop. PFAF lists no known edible use and calls the whole plant poisonous. It contains lobeline, which affects the nervous system in a nicotine-like way. The RHS warns that eating it harms people and pets. Contact can also irritate skin, so wear gloves when handling it. PFAF reports that even its smell has caused sickness. It records leaf juice used for toothache and smoking for intoxication. These reported uses do not establish safety. PFAF lists no other uses and does not flag it as weedy.