James H. Schutte
Family
Lobeliaceae
Botanical Name
Lobelia siphilitica
Plant Common Name
Blue Cardinal Flower, Great Blue Lobelia
General Description
A cooling presence in the late-summer landscape, this hardy perennial from damp habitats in central and eastern North America delights gardeners and draws hummingbirds with its spires of blue flowers.
Rosettes of oval to lance-shaped, medium- to dark-green leaves develop in fall and persist through much of winter. Knee- to waist-high stalks terminating in long, spike-like, one-sided racemes arise from the rosettes in late summer. The purplish-blue, often white-blotched, tubular blooms have two lips, the upper three-lobed and the lower two-lobed. Plants self-sow freely if not deadheaded.
Great blue lobelia prospers in full to partial sun and rich moist soil. Do not mulch over the new fall rosettes. Use this perennial in cottage gardens, informal borders, and naturalistic waterside and meadow plantings. White-flowered 'Alba' is widely available from nurseries and seed merchants.
This plant contains lobeline, which repels deer but also presents potential health concerns for humans. For more information see http://www.msue.msu.edu/objects/content_revision/download.cfm/item_id.207878/workspace_id.-30/OC0417%20Revised%20Poisonous%20plants.pdf .
Characteristics
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AHS Heat Zone
8 - 1
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USDA Hardiness Zone
4 - 8
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Sunset Zone
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17
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Plant Type
Perennial
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Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade
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Height
2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m
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Width
12"-15" / 30.5cm - 38.1cm
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Bloom Time
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
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Native To
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, Texas, Canada
