Lobelia – Great Blue (Lobelia siphilitica) Great Lobelia Blue Cardinal Herb
Height: 60 cm 23 in
Lobelia is a fantastic upright perennial which produces long lasting spikes of bright blue flowers with finely toothed lance shaped foliage. Perfect for the late summer garden! Flowers are highly attractive to bees and butterflies. Lobelia flowers have large fan shaped lower lips characteristic of all lobelias.
Lobelia will also do well in the garden and can spread and re-seed quite exuberantly when it's happy. Blooms late summer to mid fall. Lobelia is used for breathing problems including asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough and shortness of breath. Some use as sedative and to increase sweating!
- Full Sun to part shade.
- Sand to clay soil
- Plant for an area that receives regular moisture (even flooding) and part shade
- Direct sow the tiny, dust-like seeds on the surface of moist soil, and do not transplant outside until night time temperatures are well above 10°C (50°F). Water from below or fine mist.
- OR start seeds indoors: requires cold stratification. Fill a container with moistened potting mix, sow the seeds on top of the mix, (need light to germinate), water with a spray bottle, cover the container and place in the fridge. Do not allow the seeds to dry out. Remove from fridge in later winter and place in warm spot inside under lights. Place the pots in a bright location at about 70 F; keep the soil moist as the seedlings sprout and develop. Move the pots into direct sunlight to continue growing. When the seedlings have 2 sets of true leaves, pot them up into a larger container filled with potting soil. After the risk of frost has passed, harden seedlings off gradually over 10 days. Once hardened off, plant in the garden.
- Harvest: self seeds easily: leave the seed pods on the plant and allow them to fall naturally. Then collect the seeds, sow immediately in the garden,or store in the fridge and plant out in the spring.
- Attracts various bees and butterflies.
- Seed Count: 35