If I needed to decide a favourite flower, lobelia may be it. Its intense blue petals add a beautiful pop of coloration to raised beds and containers, whereas its delicate, tubular flowers are available shades of blue, white, magenta, or purple. Though it seems dainty, lobelia can survive the winter in lots of climates.
In sizzling locations like Arizona, it thrives throughout the cooler months in case you wait to plant it till fall. Sure, it can in all probability die again as soon as the scorching summer season warmth arrives, however rising it in partial shade can prolong its life. I get so excited each fall that I normally purchase transplants too early, and inevitably find yourself dropping a number of earlier than the climate cools down sufficient!
Beneath are my 4 high suggestions for rising lobelia—so you possibly can add this beautiful, easy-to-grow flower to your backyard or container shows.
4 Suggestions for Rising Lobelia
1. Develop Lobelia from Seed or Transplant
Seeds are tough. Lobelia seeds want gentle to germinate, so press them gently into the soil with out masking them. Begin seeds indoors 6-8 weeks earlier than planting outdoor. Nevertheless, they’re notoriously troublesome to begin—so in case you’re new to lobelia, transplants are a a lot simpler choice.
Search for wholesome transplants. Select compact crops with few blooms, stocky stems, and deep-green leaves. Keep away from pale flowers or yellow foliage. Wait to plant till temperatures are cool in fall in case you dwell in a hot-summer local weather (just like the low desert of Arizona).
Varieties to strive:
2. Plant Lobelia on the Proper Time
Cool-summer or average climates: Plant transplants in spring after the final frost. You’ll get pleasure from lobelia blooms from early summer season proper as much as the primary frost in fall. As soon as frost arrives, pull up the useless crops and compost them.
Sizzling-summer climates (like Arizona): Plant lobelia from late September by December. Lobelia blooms from early spring till temperatures soar in June. Plant lobelia in shady areas to maintain lobelia alive longer.
When to plant in Arizona:
Begin seeds indoors: July – October
Transplants outdoors: September 15 – December
If you would like a fast reference for spacing, timing, and favorites, my Flower Planting Information might help you map out beds and containers.
3. Give Lobelia the Proper Atmosphere
Soil: Select moist, wealthy, well-draining soil. Amend the world with compost earlier than planting.
Daylight: Purpose for partial solar (4-6 hours of direct gentle) with morning solar if doable. This helps preserve the crops cooler throughout intense afternoon warmth.
Mulch: After planting, mulch effectively to retain moisture and preserve the soil temperature down.
Fertilizer: If wanted, feed with a flower fertilizer after planting to encourage robust progress and plentiful blooms. I typically solely use worm castings and compost and that appears to work effectively.
Non permanent Shade: Shade newly planted seedlings for the primary few days to assist them settle in.
4. Look after Lobelia as It Grows
Water: Lobelia wants constant moisture. In sizzling spells, water extra typically to cut back stress.
Deadheading: Take away spent blooms to encourage steady flowering.
Toxicity: All elements of lobelia are toxic—preserve it away from pets and kids.
Self-seeding: Permit some flowers to drop seeds, and also you may see new lobelia seedlings subsequent season.
The place Lobelia Shines
Lobelia stays compact (about 4–8 inches tall and 4–24 inches vast), which makes it excellent for edging raised beds, tucking round bigger crops, and softening container rims. Its behavior is just like alyssum, and so they each like to path over the perimeters of submit. If you’re new to alyssum, see my information to find out how to develop alyssum.
After I plant containers of bulbs, I prefer to underplant with lobelia or alyssum for fast coloration whereas the bulbs are rising. If you would like the step-by-step on timing, soil, and depth, right here is my submit on rising bulbs in containers in sizzling climates.
For coloration pairings, lobelia with blue salvia is difficult to beat. If you’re planning a cool-season refresh, browse my listing of the ten best fall flowers in Arizona and the Arizona annual flowers visible information to seek out extra companions that thrive by winter.
Is there anything I’m lacking? Lobelia is a superb cool-season annual that brings stunning, vibrant coloration. In the event you’re in a heat area, bear in mind to attend till fall’s cooler temperatures to plant. In the event you dwell in a average local weather, plant in spring, and also you’ll get pleasure from lobelia’s blue, purple, pink, or white blossoms effectively into autumn. And in case you, like me, get impatient and purchase it too quickly, you could lose a number of crops within the warmth, however as soon as the climate cooperates, lobelia will reward you with a shocking present. Blissful planting!
