Lobelia Erinus

Lobelia erinus

Lobelia. Add lobelias to shade gardens for rich, true blues. These trailing, colorful shade annuals bloom prolifically in spring and fall, almost covering themselves in flowers. Annual lobelia is a cool-season plant that can tolerate most light conditions, including shade.

Is Lobelia erinus invasive?

non-aggressive. non-invasive. not native to North America - South Africa.

What is Lobelia erinus used for?

Lobelia has a long history of use as a herbal remedy, particularly in North America, for respiratory conditions such as asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and coughs. Historically, native Americans smoked the leaves as a cure for asthma.

Is Lobelia erinus a trailing plant?

Lobelia erinus is a trailing species with masses of purple or blue flowers. It has fine stems and deep green leaves, which are toothed and roughly oval.

Do lobelia come back every year?

Flowering season(s)	Summer, Autumn
Foliage season(s)	Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter
Sunlight	Partial shade, Full sun

How long do lobelia plants last?

Lobelia should delight your garden with beautiful blooms about mid-summer, continuing on up to the first frost. Although not necessary, you can deadhead lobelia plants to maintain a neat appearance.

Do you deadhead Lobelia erinus?

Lobelia plants can benefit from deadheading, trimming, or occasional cutbacks to rejuvenate fresh growth in the middle of the season. Perennial lobelias can be cut back to the ground in fall or late winter to prepare for the next season's growth.

How do you keep lobelia looking good?

All lobelias need a spot in full sun or part shade, and reliably moist soil. The annual varieties don't need deadheading but can be cut back in mid summer to maintain bushiness and good flowering. Deadhead perennial varieties once they've finished flowering and cut foliage back in autumn.

Does lobelia like full shade?

They should be positioned in full sun or partial shade, with protection from the hot afternoon sun in warmer areas. Annual lobelia varieties will survive light frosts, but will be killed by the first hard frost.

What are the side effects of lobelia?

Lobelia is considered a potentially toxic herb. It can cause serious side effects, such as profuse sweating, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tremors, rapid heartbeat, mental confusion, convulsions, hypothermia, coma, and possibly even death.

Who should not take lobelia?

Taking 0.6-1 gram of the leaf is said to be toxic, and 4 grams may be fatal (1, 16, 17). Children, individuals taking medications, and women who are pregnant or breastfeeding should avoid lobelia products due to the lack of safety research.

Is lobelia toxic to dogs?

Lobelia is considered toxic for dogs and puppies. All parts of the plant are toxic to ingest, especially in large amounts. It is not harmful to come into skin contact with lobelia foliage or flowers. Lobelia contains toxic alkaloids that can cause vomiting, excessive salivation, rapid heartbeat, and abdominal pain.

How fast does lobelia spread?

Plant Type:	Tender perennial grown as an annual	Blue, pink, purple, white/green
Spread:	8-16 inches	Asterales
Growth Rate:	Moderate	Campanulaceae
Time to Maturity:	12-16 weeks from sowing	Lobelia
Water Needs:	Moderate	erinus

Where does lobelia grow best?

Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis), named for its showy spikes of scarlet-red flowers, is the most popular perennial variety. Some varieties also have ornamental reddish-bronze foliage. A North American wildflower native to wet areas, cardinal flower can be found growing in marshes, stream banks, and low woods.

Do lobelia reseed themselves?

Lobelia will reseed themselves if you let them, but they're not invasive due to their demand for rich, loose, consistently moist soil. Prepare your lobelia beds by working aged compost into the top six inches of soil. For potted plants, add Perlite and peat moss to prevent soil compaction.

How do you winterize lobelia?

Steps To Care For Lobelia in Winter

Step 1 - Perennial lobelia will die back after first frost.
Step 2 - Cut back dead foliage and flowers to the ground.
Step 3 - Apply a thin layer of mulch.
Step 4 - Allow plants to go dormant over winter, watering only in the case of extreme drought.

Will lobelia spread?

Annual lobelia (Lobelia erinus) blooms prolifically for months, with a trailing, spreading or bushy habit that's perfect for containers and landscape plantings.

How do you keep lobelia blooming all summer long?

Cutting back lobelia plants improves their appearance and health. It also encourages the plant to produce more flowers over a longer period of time. The three types of pruning that benefit lobelia plants are removing spent flowers, pinching, and cutting back.

How do I know if my lobelia is perennial?

There are many types of Lobelia. Some are annuals and some are perennials and some are annuals only in northern climates. Annuals will usually self-seed and come back the next year, while perennials will re-sprout from the dormant plant in spring.