Edging Lobelia
(Lobelia erinus)
Edging Lobelia (Lobelia erinus)
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Les Meloures Wikipedia
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Photo by: Les Meloures Wikipedia | License Type: CC BY-SA 1.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/1.0 | Uploader: MGA73bot2 | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Lobelia_026.jpg | Notes: {{Information |Description={{en|''[[:en:Lobelia puberula|Lobelia puberula]]'', high quality wet-prairie remnant southwest of Arnold Air Force Base headquarters, [[:en:Coffee County, Tennessee|Coffee County, Tennessee]].}} |Source={{own}} |Date=created 21 September
Estimated Native Range
Summary
Lobelia erinus, commonly known as Edging Lobelia, is a herbaceous plant that can be grown as an annual or short-lived perennial. It is native to a range of habitats in Southern and Central Africa, including open grasslands, plains, and areas within forests where it benefits from partial shade. Typically, it grows to a height of 8–15 cm with a prostrate or scrambling growth habit. The wild plants produce flowers that are blue to violet with a five-lobed corolla measuring 8–20 mm across, and they are presented in loose panicles. Cultivated varieties offer a spectrum of flower colors including white, blue, purple, pink, or red, with a center that is either yellow or white. The flowering season extends through the warmer months, and the flowers are quite showy, making it a favorite for ornamental use.
Edging Lobelia is celebrated for its vibrant flowers and is a popular choice for edging in gardens, as well as for hanging baskets and window boxes, adding a splash of color to these settings. It is relatively easy to maintain, requiring only moderate watering and well-drained soil. While it thrives in full sun, it can also tolerate part shade, which makes it versatile for different garden aspects. In temperate zones, it is treated as a half-hardy annual, started under glass with some heat in spring and transplanted outdoors after the frost danger has passed. Gardeners may also opt for purchasing young "plug" plants from garden centers to be planted outside in late spring or early summer. However, it is susceptible to root rot if overwatered and may attract pests such as aphids. It is not known to be invasive when grown outside its native range, but care should be taken to avoid overwatering to prevent disease.CC BY-SA 4.0
Edging Lobelia is celebrated for its vibrant flowers and is a popular choice for edging in gardens, as well as for hanging baskets and window boxes, adding a splash of color to these settings. It is relatively easy to maintain, requiring only moderate watering and well-drained soil. While it thrives in full sun, it can also tolerate part shade, which makes it versatile for different garden aspects. In temperate zones, it is treated as a half-hardy annual, started under glass with some heat in spring and transplanted outdoors after the frost danger has passed. Gardeners may also opt for purchasing young "plug" plants from garden centers to be planted outside in late spring or early summer. However, it is susceptible to root rot if overwatered and may attract pests such as aphids. It is not known to be invasive when grown outside its native range, but care should be taken to avoid overwatering to prevent disease.CC BY-SA 4.0
Plant Description
- Plant Type: Herb
- Height: 0.5-0.8 feet
- Width: 0.5-1 feet
- Growth Rate: Moderate
- Flower Color: Blue, Pink, Purple, White
- Flowering Season: Spring, Summer, Fall
- Leaf Retention:
Growth Requirements
- Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
- Water: Medium
- Drainage: Medium, Fast
Common Uses
Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Potted Plant, Rock Garden, Salt Tolerant, Showy Flowers, Street Planting
Natural Habitat
Native to open grasslands, plains, and forest areas in Southern and Central Africa
Other Names
Common Names: Garden Lobelia, Trailing Lobelia, Blaue Lobelie, Tuinlobelia, Hänglobelia, Kantlobelia, Kaplobelia, 六倍利
Scientific Names: , Lobelia erinus, Lobelia candida, Lobelia bicolor, Lobelia senegalensis, Lobelia nuda, Lobelia natalensis, Lobelia filiformis var. natalensis, Lobelia rosulata, Laurentia erinoides
GBIF Accepted Name: Lobelia erinus L.