How to Grow Lobelia Flowers

About Growing Lobelia Plants in Your Home Flower Garden

Are you growing Lobelia flowers yet? They are a favorite among home gardeners. Maybe it’s because they are easy to grow. Or, perhaps gardeners love Lobelia flowers for the profuse blooms they produce in a rainbow of colors. Lobelia plants are cool-weather flowers. It is native to cooler regions of Southern Africa. If you haven’t grown them before, go out now and buy some Lobelia seeds to plant in the spring. You’ll be glad you did!

Lobelia plants are classified as an herb. There are a few hundred varieties of Lobelia plants. But, only a few varieties are commonly grown in the home garden. There are annual and perennial varieties of Lobelia. Even the perennial varieties are often grown in the home garden as annuals.

Most Lobelia plant varieties are compact, only growing 3 to 6 inches tall. However, some varieties will grow several feet tall.

Lobelia flowers look great when grown in mass groups. They readily tolerate crowding. Grow these compact plants as border edging, along creek beds, in containers, or in windowsill planters. They are great flowers for hanging baskets, too.

Lobelia is a toxic plant, But, like many other toxic plants, it has medicinal applications.

Lobelia Flowers Specifications

Flower Colors: Colors include white, blue, purple, pink, and crimson. Blue is the most popular.

Flowers Bloom: Mid-summer to frost.

Plant Height: most grow 4″ to 6″. Dwarf varieties grow just 3 to 6 inches tall.

Light Requirements: Full to partial sunlight.

Ideal Soil pH: 6.0 – 7.5.

Hardiness Zones: 10 – 11

Deer Resistant? Yes

Toxic? Yes. It is toxic to people and pets.

Plant Type: Annuals and Perennials, Lobelia

Number of species: 415

Native To: Southern Africa

Botanical Name: Lobelia erinus

Other names: Indian Tobacco, Gagroot, Bladderpod, Pukeweed

Are Lobelia Plants Edible?

NO!!

Lobelia plants are toxic to humans and pets. Consumption of just a few leaves or seeds is potentially harmful. Keep this plant away from children and pets.

Symptoms include diarrhea, dizziness, nausea, respiratory distress, and vomiting.

Medicinal Uses for Lobelia Flowers

Lobelia plants have been used for many centuries to make herbal health remedies. It is high in antioxidants. Here are some of them:

It improves immune system health.
Lobelia stimulates the respiratory system.
Treats asthma.
It is a muscle relaxant.
Make a tea to soothe inflammation and suppress coughs.
It loosens mucus and phlegm.
A chemical in the plant is used to help overcome addiction to nicotine.

Caution: Because this plant is toxic, we recommend you do not prepare home remedies yourself without the proper training to do so.

Light Requirements

Lobelia flowers grow well in full to partial sunlight. However, in hot weather regions, they can wither under the hot, afternoon sun. So, in hotter regions, plant them where they receive full morning sun, and are shaded in the afternoon.

Note: Flower production is reduced if the amount of sunlight is too low. Color quality can also be affected in lower light.

Lobelia Plant Propagation

These plants are grown from tiny seeds. Lobelia seeds can be directly seeded into your flower garden or seeded indoors for transplanting later. Lobelia seeds need two to three weeks to germinate. We recommend planting Lobelias in pots and containers indoors, then transplanting them outdoors.

Garden Tip: Use heated germination mats to speed seed germination and increase the germination rate.

For outdoors starts, sow lobelia seeds early in the season and cover lightly with soil. Water thoroughly once. Make sure to mark the planting site, for these slow to sprout seeds.

Transplant Lobelias into your garden after the last frost date for your area. Spacing depends upon varieties, with miniature varieties spaced four to six inches apart.

Under ideal conditions, Lobelia will reseed itself.

Days to Germination: 15 – 21 days.

How to Grow Lobelia Flower Plants

Lobelia plants like full sun to partial shade. Plants prefer cool weather. In hotter regions, grow them in partial shade, or an area where they are shaded during the hottest part of the day.

The plants like rich, wet soil. Plants will thrive in moist to wet soil along creek beds and streams, or in natural wetlands.

Established plants need little attention. Keep soil moist to wet. Water frequently during dry spells.

For peak performance, add a general-purpose fertilizer once a month.

Around mid-summer, your plants will begin to produce flowers and will continue to do so up to the first frost. You do not need to remove dead flower blooms, except for appearance.

The plants are susceptible to frost. Plan to cover them up in the spring if a late frost is expected. Also, cover them up if an early fall frost arrives while the plant is still blooming.

Pruning Lobelia Plants

This plant requires no pruning. However, removing any dead or damaged leaves improves the attractive appearance of the plant.

Also, you don’t need to deadhead spent blooms. But, you can take the time to remove them for appearance.

How to Grow Lobelia Flowers in Containers

You’ll love growing Lobelia flowers in containers, flowerpots, and windowsill planters. Place them in a partially shaded area of your patio, deck, or balcony. They will reward you with a bright and colorful profusion of blooms.

Like any container-grown plant, they need extra care and attention. Here’s how:

It is important to have a drain hole to allow excess water to drain from the pot.
Keep an eye on the moisture level. Outdoors, check the plants every day or two, especially in extended periods of hot, dry weather. Keep the soil moist, but not wet. It is okay to let the top of the soil begin to dry between watering. When watering the plants, thoroughly wet the soil. Excess water will drain through the hole in the bottom of the flowerpot.
Nutrients in a flowerpot are limited. So, use fertilizer spikes to feed the plants. Or, apply a light solution of liquid fertilizer once a month.
Select a sunny location on your deck.

Remember, Lobelias are a toxic plant. If you have small children or pets, you may not want them on a patio or deck.