Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)

Great Blue Lobelia

(Lobelia siphilitica)

Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)

Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova

CC BY-SA 3.0

Image By: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova

Recorded By:

Copyright Notice: Photo by: Agnieszka Kwiecień, Nova | License Type: CC BY-SA 3.0 | License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0 | Uploader: Nova | Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Title: Lobelia_siphilitica_Lobelia_wielka_01.jpg | Notes: {{Information |Description={{en|1=''Lobelia siphilitica'', Campanulaceae, Gre Lobelia, flower. The whole, fresh plant is used in homeopathy as remedy: Lobelia siphilitica (Lob-s.)}} {{de|1=''Lobelia siphilitica'', Campanulaceae, Große Blaue L

Estimated Native Range

Summary

Lobelia siphilitica, commonly known as Great Blue Lobelia, is a deciduous perennial herb native to moist meadows, streambanks, and woodland areas in the Central, Intermountain and Eastern USA. It can grow up to four feet tall and features a single ridged, unbranched stem that is smooth or sparsely hairy. The leaves are hairless or scarcely hairy, varying in shape from elliptical to lance-like, slightly narrowing at the base, about 2 inches wide and 2 to 6 inches in length, and are alternately attached to the stem without a leaf stalk. The root system consists of a central taproot with occasional basal offshoots. Great Blue Lobelia produces a spike of zygomorphic, bright blue flowers in late summer, which are showy and attract pollinators. The flowers are more densely clustered towards the top of the raceme and become more spaced out further down, with the lower flowers blooming first.

This plant is valued for its striking blue flowers and is often used in perennial borders, rain gardens, and naturalized areas. It is sold in garden centers and is hardy in zones 4 to 9. Great Blue Lobelia prefers consistently moist soils and can tolerate wet conditions, making it suitable for riparian plantings. It can be propagated by cuttings or seeds and generally does best in full sun to part shade. While it is not particularly prone to diseases, it can suffer from root rot in poorly drained soils.CC BY-SA 4.0

Plant Description

Plant Type: Herb
Height: 2-3 feet
Width: 1-1.5 feet
Growth Rate: Moderate
Flower Color: Blue
Flowering Season: Summer, Fall
Leaf Retention: Deciduous

Growth Requirements

Sun: Full Sun, Part Shade
Water: Medium, High
Drainage: Slow, Medium, Fast

Common Uses

Bee Garden, Bird Garden, Border Plant, Butterfly Garden, Deer Resistant, Erosion Control, Hummingbird Garden, Low Maintenance, Rabbit Resistant, Showy Flowers, Street Planting, Water Garden

Natural Habitat

Moist meadows, streambanks, and woodland areas

Other Names

Common Names: Blue Lobelia, Great Lobelia, Blue Cardinal Flower, Blaue Kardinals-Lobelie, Lobélie Géante, Lobélie Bleue, Blå Axlobelia

Scientific Names: , Lobelia siphilitica, Lobelia siphilitica var. siphilitica, Lobelia siphilitica f. siphilitica, Lobelia siphilitica var. ludoviciana, Lobelia siphilitica f. albiflora, Lobelia siphilitica var. alba, Lobelia antisyphilitica, Lobelia siphilitica f. purpurea, Lobelia siphilitica var. candida

GBIF Accepted Name: Lobelia siphilitica L.