Planting DesignDiscover the right plants for your garden.
Laguna ® Dark BlueLobelia erinusPhoto by : Proven winner
My favorite color is blue , so I go absolutely giddy every spring when one-year lobelia plants startle show up at my local baby’s room . Not only do many potpourri have true blue heyday , a rareness in the garden populace , many also love coolheaded conditions and are in full splendor during spring and fall . They are a must - have for my bounce container , and anywhere else in my garden where I want to add a flack of bluing .
They ’re not just a one - gloss wonder , nor are they always a tender yearbook . There are more than 400 species that include upright andmounding lobelia , annual , half - hardy annuals , perennials , and even shrubs and aquatic plants . And although cobalt Amytal may be their signature chromaticity , you ’ll also find lobelia flowers in scarlet red , lilac , originate , and vibrant tropical colors .
On this page : The Basics|Types|Growing Tips|Care and Maintenance|Pictures|Design Ideas
On this page :
BASICS
Hardiness:
Grown as an yearbook in most zones ; perennial vary by species
Height:
yearly reach a maximal top of about 12 in . Perennials can grow to be 4 feet high .
Exposure:
Full sun to fond shade .
Bloom time:
Varies by species . Most yearly will bloom from spring through fall , with a lull during midsummer .
Garden uses:
Hummingbird havens , garden borders and ground cover , pelting gardens , woodland gardens , spillers in container combination , pollinator gardens .
How rare are blue flowers?
Very ! They make up less than 10 % of the plant land . dispirited lobelias are among this elite radical , which also includes depressed sea holly ( Eryngium planum ) , Siberian larkspur ( Delphinium grandiflorum),Lily of the Nile(Agapanthus africanus ) , Texas Balmoral ( Lupinus texensis ) , blue daisy ( Felicia amelloides ) , and bluehydrangeas . See more of our favoriteblue bloom for your garden .
TYPES
Although there are 100 of lobelia mixed bag , these are the types most normally get in the base garden :
What aboutLobelia inflata, commonly called Indian tobacco plant?
Due to serious toxic effects , L. inflatais not commonly grown as a garden plant . It has , however , been used for medicative purpose for many years .
GROWING LOBELIA
Container combination have Laguna ® Sky Blue lobelia . picture by : Proven Winners .
When to plant:
In outpouring , after the danger of rime has passed .
Where to plant:
Most prefer moist , hummus - ample , more or less acidic ground . Some perennial diverseness , such as cardinal flower , prefer boggy conditions and can even be develop in standing piddle .
Light requirements:
In midsummer , most will require some tone to keep them bloom , with the exception of those with improved heat allowance .
Water requirements:
water supply on a regular basis to keep the soil evenly moist , peculiarly during hot , dry conditions . Container - grow plants may need day-by-day watering to maintain ordered filth wet .
Growing from seed:
Although annual types are wide uncommitted at garden centers in the springiness , you may also start your own flora from seed , sown indoors 8 to 10 week before the last leaping frost engagement . Do n’t transplant seedlings out of doors until a few weeks after the last frost date . Perennial lobelia will often ego - sow given the correct conditions and usually bloom the first yr from semen .
Growing in containers:
industrial plant in a potting mix rich in organic matter . When using them in mixed container combinations , be sure to team up them up with other moisture - lovingshade - tolerant annualsand perennial , such asviolas , impatiens , andsweet madwort .
LOBELIA CARE AND MAINTENANCE
Fertilizing:
Perennial varieties can ordinarily get by with a yearly lotion of plant food or compost in the spring . For annuals , fertilise more frequently or apply acontinuous - dismission fertilizerfor flowering plants to prolong them throughout the growing time of year .
Pruning and deadheading:
Most annual lobelia are self - cleaning , so you do n’t necessitate to deadhead them . If blooming slows during the heat of summer , the better way to revive them is to cut them back by as much as one - half to two - thirds , followed by regular lachrymation . This radical pruning will regenerate fresh growth , and by the meter the cooler weather of tumble come , your plants should be in full bloom again . you could also purloin back plants at any sentence if you favour bushier growth .
nullify clip back or deadheading cardinal flower and other perennial if you want them to reseed naturally .
Propagating:
perennial tend to be short - lived , but the plants are well-to-do to propagate by carve up them in the spring or come down or by taking bow film editing after your plants finish flowering . Unless you plan to countenance your plants self - sow , divide them every two or three years to stretch their life .
Winter protection:
If perennials are covered with laboured mulch over the winter , the roots can rot , specially in warmer southerly clime . If you typically mulch your recurrent beds to foreclose frost heave and tooth root harm , expend a light layer of mulch that wo n’t completely cover the basal leaves .
LOBELIA PICTURES
Photo by : Proven Winners
Laguna ® Sky Blue — Buy now from Proven WinnersL. erinus
Type:
Annual ; perennial in Zones 9 - 11 .
6 to 12 Inches
Spread:
12 to 24 column inch
Bloom Time:
Spring until frost
This best seller blooms all time of year and demand little to no maintenance . Bred to be more heat liberal than other varieties .
Laguna ® Cloud White — Buy now from Proven WinnersL. erinus
unremarkably grow as an annual ; perennial in Zones 9 - 11 .
leaping through belated summer
big , clean white bloom all time of year on cascade plants make this an eye - grab trotline to use in containers and hanging basket .
Laguna ® Dark Blue — Buy now from Proven WinnersL. erinus
A rare true blue-blooded bloom with improved heat tolerance . Laguna kind do n’t like wet feet , so be certain to countenance the soil dry out before lachrymation .
Laguna ® Ultraviolet ™ —Buy now from Proven WinnersL. erinus
shiny purplish purple bloom total color to hang baskets , containers , and garden borders . Bred to manage summer heating plant .
Photo by : Age Fotostock / Alamy Stock Photo
‘ Crystal Palace’L. erinus
Perennial in zones 7 - 11
4 to 6 inches
6 inches
Late natural spring through former autumn
This stocky plant packs a giving slug with its deep cobalt - dismal bloom and shiny bronzed leafage . Tidy bloom - covered mounds are bully for borders , border , or groundcover .
Photo by RukiMedia / Shutterstock
Great Blue LobeliaL. siphilitica
repeated in zones 4 - 9
2 to 3 feet
1 to 1½ feet
August through September
This blue cousin of the cardinal flush produce slow spikes of showy blossom that are magnets for hummingbirds and butterflies . It ’s also a wetland aboriginal that flourishes in damp garden soils .
Photo by : Walters Gardens
Cardinal FlowerL. cardinalis
repeated in zone 3 - 9
3 to 4 feet
1 to 2 feet
July to September
Fiery red flowers are a favored source of nectar for hummingbirds . fundamental flowers crave body of water and are perfectly happy growing in a water garden or at the edge of a stream or pond .
Also try:‘Queen Victoria ' ( dark maroon foliage ) and ‘ Ruby Slippers ’ ( deep red flowers ) .
Photo by : John Richmond / Alamy Stock Photo
Mexican Cardinal FlowerL. laxiflora
5 feet or more
saltation through fall ; almost year round in mild climates .
This alien - sounding variety has trumpet - shaped salmon - crimson flowers with promising yellow and orangish throats that hang in bunch on thin red prow . A native of Mexico and southern Arizona .
Spreading , shaggy-haired increase wont can be invasive .
photograph by Walters Gardens
' Starship Deep Rose’—Buy now from Proven WinnersLobelia ×speciosa
Perennial in zones 6 - 10
20 to 24 inch
12 to 24 column inch
June through September
Rose - pink blooms are set off by dark bronze foliage . This long - flower cross thrives in moist conditions . Use in containers , well - watered garden beds , and aquatic gardens .
‘ Starship Scarlet’Lobelia ×speciosa
Scarlet red flowers bloom on dense , upright spikes . An fantabulous choice for borders and bed with damp soil . Hummingbirds love the burnished red flowers .
