Lobelia is one of my favorite plants to grow each summer.
I am head over heals in love with it.
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.
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.
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 mid-summer heat quite well (I talk about the Techno Heat Lobelia in my post on Container Gardening Made Easy).
This lobelia plant is actually an inexpensive hanging basket that I removed the plastic hangers from and just plopped down in an old wooden crate.
It doesn't get much easier than that!
If you've not tried growing lobelia before, you really need to give it a go this summer. You won't regret it!
New For Spring 2021:
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Olive Cooper
Pretty Pam. I think blue flowers are something special.
deborah
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!
Jane
Pretty, pretty, pretty!!!
Jane
Linda
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!
Cozy Little House
I love the perky bright blue color. I seem to kill it quickly however. Probably water it too much.
Brenda
Heather
I love lobelia too. The wonderful bright blue of the flowers is just great!
Ann@A Sentimental Life
how pretty! we do get stuck using the same plants over and over every year...need to branch out! thanks for sharing
Gail @ Faithfulness Farm
LOVE Lobelia!! Just perfect for hanging baskets 🙂
Blessings!
Gail
⚜ ↁℯℬℬᴵℰ⚜
This was the first year I had it too...mine is wilting away though from the heat. Yours is so pretty Pam!
marty (A Stroll Thru Life)
Oh I agree, it is wonderful. I love it. It grows here in the spring, winter and fall, but dies in the summer. Mine just bit the dust. Hugs, Marty
Tete
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
Happier Than a Pig in Mud
Very pretty! Happy Weekend Pam:@)
Crystal Jeffers
ooo they are pretty!
Kim K.
Beautiful. A lovely little surprise.
La
I love the way they are falling over the side of your basket. It's very pretty, Pam.
Katie@LeBeauPaonVictorien
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!