Bedding Lobelia (Lobelia erinus) — identification, habitat & look-alikes

Bedding lobelia is a low-growing plant native to tropical and southern Africa, with blue, violet, pink, or white flowers and compact or trailing forms. In much of the United States it is grown as an during the cooler months because hot, humid weather can reduce flowering. It is also called garden lobelia.

Appearance

Appearance: Plants usually stay 6–9 in (15–23 cm) tall and spread 6–12 in (15–30 cm). Cultivars may be upright and mounded or trailing, with small alternate leaves that are toothed near the base of the plant and narrower higher up.
Flowers: Each small tubular flower opens into two upper lobes and a fan-like lower lip. Cultivars come in blue, violet, pink, and white; in North Carolina, the main bloom runs from April through June, with the display often fading in summer heat.
Fruit: Small hold many tiny seeds.

Look-alikes

great blue lobeliaLobelia siphilitica

Great blue lobelia is an upright U.S. native perennial, usually 1.5–4 ft (0.5–1.2 m) tall, with larger flowers on long leafy spikes. Bedding lobelia is usually only 6–9 in (15–23 cm) tall and forms a mound or trailing mat.

Why they get mixed upBoth can have blue, two-lipped flowers and share the genus Lobelia.

Where it lives

Typical habitats: bed edges
window boxes
hanging baskets
Range: It is native to tropical and southern Africa. In the United States it is a cultivated annual and is also recorded as introduced in places including California, Oregon, and Pennsylvania.
Preferred conditions: It prefers full sun to partial shade and moist, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. It performs best in cool spring weather and struggles with drought and hot, humid summers.
Flowering: Flowers Apr–Jun
Flowers Apr–Jun

Growing it

Care: Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Cutting tired growth back after flowering may encourage another flush.
Propagation: It is commonly grown from seed.
Toxicity: Large amounts of any part can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, and serious nervous-system symptoms. Do not treat it as an edible plant.

Name and classification

Varieties and forms: Cultivars include compact upright forms and trailing forms.

Conservation

IUCN Red List: NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed

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