As a whole, lobelias pretty much sell themselves. All it takes is seeing one in bloom with the naked eye and even an ardent cynic would have a change of mind. The genus as a whole is quite a varied grouping of plants. Lobelias come in many shapes and sizes and their diversity of habitat preferences are considerable. Here at Prairie Moon, we offer four fantastic species – cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis – http://bit.ly/1oEUlMG), great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica – http://bit.ly/1knUqET), Indian tobacco(Lobelia inflata –http://bit.ly/1sxWvhV), and pale spiked lobelia (Lobelia spicata – http://bit.ly/1lBX1WZ). All are late summer bloomers that thrive in moist soils. They start easily from seed and prefer a fair amount of sunlight. Lobelias produce a secondary compound known as “lobeline,” which deters herbivores. Flower colors range from some of the truest blue in the world of botany and some of the softest lavender to a red so deep that, when standing in front of a patch of cardinal flower in full bloom, one must almost squint to take it all in. A camera will never do it justice. Once established, lobelias can be quite hardy. Consider putting some of these species in your garden. Your friendly neighborhood pollinators will thank you.
Lovely Lobelias
Advertisements
