Lobelia spreads, but not aggressively.
Most varieties of lobelia have a somewhat trailing growth habit, although other varieties clump.
Other colors include purple, white, pink, and lilac.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Most varieties have a tiny white “eye” in the center of each flower.
While most varieties have green foliage, a few have a slight bronze tinge to the leaves.
Plant it outdoors in the spring and it will begin to flower by early summer.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
All parts of the plant are toxic to pets and humans.
Despite its compact, delicate appearance, lobelia does not require a lot of maintenance.
It doesn’t need to bedeadheadedbecause the plant self-cleans its spent, small flowers.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Nor do deer tend to eat it.
Soil
Lobelia likes rich, well-drained soil.
Don’t let conditions get soggy, however, which can causeroot rot.
The Spruce / Evgeniya Vlasova
Water
Keep the soil evenly moist, but not soggy.
In areas with regular rainfall, you might not need to provide extra water.
Temperature and Humidity
Annual lobelia does best in moderate temperatures and with moderate humidity.
However, it can thrive even outside those conditions as long as you provide a little extra care.
If you take quick action with the hose or watering can, often the plant will revive.
Annual lobelia will not survive freezing temperatures and is generally discarded in the winter.
These typically are somewhat higher in phosphorus than in nitrogen and potassium, as phosphorus promotes more flowers.
Continue to fertilize your lobelia regularly through the summer to keep it flowering.
Types of Lobelia
Many plants go bythe common nameof “lobelia.”
There is a wide range of color choices available, depending on which punch in you choose to grow.
You will have more success with seeds than propagating lobelia in other ways.
Lobelia prefers moisture, especially in hot weather, but it does not like to be soggy.
Any container should have plenty of drainage holes.
Common Pests
The main pest that can damage lobelia is thespider mite.
A minor spider mite infestation can be handled with gentle sprays of cold water.
Manual removal and insecticides can help eliminate the corn earworms before too much damage is done.
There’s no need to deadhead the spent flowers; annual lobelia drops them on its own.
When the weather gets very hot,Lobelia erinusdoes sometimes take a break from flowering.
Within a week or two, the plant will once again be covered with its small, white-eyed blossoms.
On the other hand, lobelia turns brown if it’s overheated.
Leaves Curling
Along with extreme heat, lobelia also can’t handle very dry conditions.
Do as you would with browning foliage and give the plant more shade and watering.
As soon as you see some spots, use insecticidal soap to remedy the situation.
This can be tough to treat if the damage is already done (holes in leaves).
Perennial varieties of lobelia do come back each year.
The plants can drop seeds, however, which may sprout and grow the following spring.
Although it produces beautiful flowers, the blooms ofLobelia erinusdo not have much fragrance.
Lobelia flowers spread in the landscape, but they are not aggressive.
The thin stems and small flowers do not last well once cut from the plant.
North Carolina State University.
