Don't miss a post, subscribe to my newsletter for updates and more via email! Learn More

House of Hawthornes

DIY Projects, Gardening Tips And Thrifty Decor Ideas

Lobelia Love: Tips For Growing Lobelia Plants

By 32 Comments

Lobelia is one of my favorite plants to grow each summer. I am head over heals in love with it.
Blue Lobelia

I planted a six pack of them in this basket a few weeks ago and they just keep blooming and blooming.

How To Grow Lobelia

  • If growing by seed indoors, start plants 10 weeks prior to last frost date for your area.
  • Can be a little difficult to grow from seed though, so most gardeners buy in 6 packs from the local garden center.
  • Plant in full sun to part shade. In hotter regions, less sun is preferred to keep them blooming longer.
  • Grows 8 to 10 inches in height.
  • Lobelia is grown as a tender perennial in zones 10-11, but as an annual from zones 2-9.
  • Although they come in other colors, the blue and violet colors of lobelia are the most popular.

Blue Lobelia

How To Care For Lobelia

  • Lobelia is generally a low maintenance plant.
  • Keep plants well watered especially during the mid-summer heat.
  • Cutting back the plants after the first initial batch of blooms have faded will promote additional flowers.
  • You can fertilize with an all-purpose liquid fertilizer ever 3-4 weeks, but it is not absolutely necessary.

Blue Lobelia

MY LATEST VIDEOS

They look great planted in the ground or in a container. The trailing nature of this lobelia would make it PERFECT for a hanging basket.

Lobelia erinus (edging lobelia) is the type I have grown most often and produce these vibrant flowers. These are the ones you most often see in the garden centers.

I’ve also tried the newer heat resistant lobelia and tend to stand up to the intense dead of summer heat quite well (I talk about the Techno Heat Lobelia in my post on Container Gardening Made Easy).

If you’ve not tried growing lobelia before, you really need to give it a go this summer. You won’t regret it!

Blue Lobelia is a wonderful annual to add to your garden this year. It comes in VIBRANT shades with loads of blooms and grows in full sun to part shade.



Other post you may enjoy:

Black Eyed Susan Vines AKA Heaven On Earth
How To Grow Peonies Your Neighbors Will Envy
5 Easy Steps To Beautiful Garden Planters

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Very pretty!!! I had some white lobelia in a pot that I planted a month or so ago with some pink double impatiens, but for some reason the lobelia died. I don’t know why; it usually does really well. I love the vivid color of your blues!

    Reply

  6. Beautiful basket of blooms! I did these a couple of years ago and loved them! I found mine at a new green house just south of town, but had not seen them at walmart before!
    I need to do them again.
    Hugs- Tete

    Reply

  13. OH the lobelia is lovely in the basket! I’ve never thought of planting things in a basket like that…so charming! Thanks for posting my giveaway on your sidebar!

    Reply

  15. I love lobelia! I really like how you have them in a basket. I have always planted them with other flowers in my urns. I think I will copy your idea. They are stunning all alone!

    Reply

  17. I absolutely love your lobelia basket. I’ve never used it before but did see some at the garden center last week. I may just have to go back and see if any is left. Love how it spills over the basket. It looks so inviting on the steps.
    Hope you have a great Sunday,
    Babs

    Reply

  19. I’ve seen Lobelia in the garden center but have never grown it. I’m going to have to remember to try it next year. Yours sure is pretty1

    Reply

  20. SO pretty! I’ve always seen lobelia in hanging baskets, but never tried it either. And I do LOVE any blue flowers! Let us know how it does the rest of the summer. I’ll have to remember it for next year!

    -Pam

    Reply

  21. Love your basket. Our color theme on the porch is red yellow and blue, Lobelia works so well in our porch boxes. It’s a must for every garden…a great pop of blue.

    Reply

  24. I love Lobelia too, especially the trailing lobelia for baskets and hanging planters. I always try to put them in transportable containers so when it gets too hot for them I can keep them in a shadier location and they last all summer. On another not, I love the font in your Header, could you tell me what it is?

    Reply

  25. Hey Pam, I love lobelias but I have had no success with them. Temperatures here get as high as 39 degrees. I am totally in awe at yours . You must have grown from seedlings ? I have tried from seeds ? Any advice for me ?

    Reply

    • I have not grown from seed before Mary, I normally pick up the little cell packs at the local nursery. I have heard from other gardening friends that they do grow easily from seeds, but most people agree that they don’t like to dry out in the heat of the summer, so keep them watered. I normally grow it in a container (basket,hanging basket or something like that, so I’m watering it daily anyhow).

      Reply

  26. I just bought this plant. I put it in a hanging container with white trailer. Should be Really pretty together. Can’t wait until it gets bigger. I love it also.

    Reply

    • They have a new variety called Techno Heat lobelia and I just planted some for the first time this year. It’s supposed to take the mid-summer heat much better than the traditional variety. A friend in North Carolina planted it last year and she said it flowered all summer long so I thought I’d give it a try this year!

      Reply

      • Thanks so much for the heads up on the new heat tolerant lobelia , I love those gorgeous flowers ,can’t wait to get to garden center to find me some . Thanks again Pam ,,

        Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

shares