Distinctive features of the lobelia plant, planting and further care in the garden, recommendations for reproduction, diseases and pests during cultivation, interesting notes, species and varieties.
Lobelia (Lobelia) is represented by herbaceous plants that can have both perennial and annual growth types. All of them are united in the Campanulaceae family. The genus includes, according to various sources, from three to four hundred different species, which are distributed almost all over the planet, where the subtropical climate prevails. A small number of them can be found in temperate climatic zones. On the territory of Russia, such as Lobelia dortmanna and Lobelia sessilifolia grow in the wild.
| Family name | Bellflower |
| Growing period | Perennial or one-year |
| Vegetation form | Herbaceous, semi-shrub, shrub and tree-like |
| Breeding method | Seed or vegetative (cuttings) |
| Landing period | The end of May |
| Landing rules | 5-10 seedlings are placed in one hole, the distance between the holes is 15-25 cm |
| Priming | Light and shrewd, sandy loam or loam |
| Soil acidity values, pH | 6, 5-7 - neutral |
| Lighting degree | Shaded location or, for some varieties, good diffused lighting |
| Humidity parameters | Regular and abundant |
| Special care rules | Prevent the soil from drying out |
| Height values | Within 10-50 cm |
| Inflorescences or type of flowers | Single axillary flowers or racemose or spike inflorescences |
| Flower color | Snow white and cyan, more rarely violet, blue and magenta |
| Flowering period | From June to July until the onset of cold weather |
| Decorative time | Summer autumn |
| Application in landscape design | Decoration of flower beds, borders and mixborders, landscaping of balconies, as a pot ampelous culture |
| USDA zone | 4–9 |
This genus of flora received its scientific name thanks to the Flemish botanist Matthias de L'Aubel (1538-1616), who eventually moved to Great Britain and also served as the physician-in-chief of King James I of England. In addition, this prominent figure was the head of Royal Botanic Gardens in Hackney.
Lobelias are presented not only in the form of herbaceous plants, they can be shrubs, shrubs or trees. There are also ground cover species with creeping shoots. If we talk about herbaceous varieties, then their stems are refined, but have good branching. The height of the shoots with creeping shoots does not exceed 10–20 cm, if the branches are erect, then they can stretch up to half a meter. If the species is ampelous, then the outlines of the hanging stems are angularly branched with a reddish tint. The entire surface of the shoots is decorated with leaves, which are located on it in the next sequence. The outlines of whole leaf plates are elongated, lanceolate, petioles are absent, foliage is sessile. The surface of the leaves is shiny. They are painted in a dark emerald hue. On the shoots and leaves, there is a coating of gray-tinted villi or it may appear silvery.
In the period June-July, formed buds begin to open in the upper part of the shoots. Lobelia flowers, resembling bells, are located singly in the leaf axils. They are crowned with shortened pedicels. When fully expanded, the diameter of the flower does not exceed 2 cm. It is characterized by a two-lipped corolla, in which the upper petals are somewhat shortened. In the central part of the flower, you can see short staminate filaments, at the top of which large anthers are formed, and an ovary is also located in the depths of the flower. The color of the corolla petals can take on snow-white and blue, more rarely violet, blue and purple shades. Plants with yellow, orange, red and pink colors are not found in nature. It happens that lobelia flowers are characterized by a uniform color of the petals or a peephole at the base of them with a contrasting color.
Despite the fact that lobelia was first bred on African territory and is distinguished by its thermophilicity, it is not afraid of spring frosts and early temperature drops. You can enjoy flowering until the cold comes. When flowering, we hear a pleasant aroma above the plantings, which attracts a variety of pollinators, such as butterflies, bees and other representatives of the Hymenoptera.
After the flowers are pollinated (August-September), fruits are formed that take the form of seed pods, divided into two compartments. They are filled with very small, dark brown, almost dusty seeds. Their germination is not lost over a three-year period.
The plant does not require complex care and if you adhere to the rules of agricultural technology, then it will not cause problems, both with one-year and long-term cultivation.
Growing lobelia outdoors - planting and care
- Choosing a landing site. Since in nature such plants settle in shrubs along the banks of large and small river arteries, it is not worth choosing places in the garden in direct sunlight. A shaded location would be best, but there are species that can grow in open areas. When grown outdoors, it is important to remember that lobelia prefers moderate heat values. If the column of the thermometer drops below the -2 mark, then the bushes will simply die. It is badly affected by high temperatures, heat and dryness. During such a period, more attention will be required for such flowering plants. Annual varieties thrive in the shade, which is a big plus for places where other garden plants cannot be planted.
- Priming for lobelia it is selected in accordance with its natural preferences. Since in nature it grows most often on a rocky substrate that does not differ in fertility, then depleted soil is suitable for it. If the soil mixture is fertile, then deciduous mass will build up, but flowering will be poor or not at all. Such a soil composition should be loose and well-drained so that air and moisture can easily flow to the roots. It is important that the soil is not heavy; sandy loam and loam will be the best choice for the plant. The acidity of the soil can be neutral (pH 6, 5-7).
- Planting lobelia in open ground is performed only at the end of May or at the beginning of June, when return frosts will not harm the immature seedlings. In the same way as when picking, that is, 5-10 plants should be placed in the planting hole. In this case, the distance between the holes is maintained within 15-25 cm. Each of the lobelia bundles should have at least 1 m2 of soil. Since the plant is very afraid of moisture stagnation at the roots, then drainage can be put on the bottom of the hole - small expanded clay or pebbles. Then sprinkle on top with a small amount of the substrate and only then put a bunch of seedlings on it.
- Watering for lobelia it is carried out abundantly. It is impossible to allow the soil to dry out, if even for a short period the substrate dries up, then the former look cannot be returned to the bush. But at the same time, the soil should not be flooded, since its waterlogging and acidification will lead to the development of putrefactive processes in the root system of plants.
- Fertilizers lobelia is necessary, like any other garden plant, in order not only to have a beautiful deciduous mass, but also to maintain a long and lush flowering. It is recommended with the arrival of spring to systematically feed the bushes with a complex mineral fertilizer, like "Kemira Universal" and "Kemira Plus" according to the instructions in the manufacturer's instructions.
- Pruning such a plant is carried out only after the first flowering period has ended. Summer heat is also a problem for the plant, which overtakes lobelias, which grow even in the northern location of flower beds or in strong shade. During such periods, the foliage turns yellow and dries out, spoiling the appearance of the entire bush. Then it is necessary to pluck out the dried parts or carefully cut them off. This period mainly falls on July-August and leads to a weakening of the lobelia, since its shoots are stretched out, taking on a yellow color scheme, there are already very few flowers on them. According to the recommendations of gardeners, it is by pruning that the plant should be brought to its normal state - without touching only 5-10 cm of its shoots from the ground. This will be an excellent stimulation of the growth of young shoots and the establishment of new flower buds and a second wave of flowering.
- The use of lobelia in landscape design. Since plants with their shoots form small clumps resembling pads, decorated with blue-blue flowers, representatives of flora with snow-white inflorescences, such as Iberis or Alyssum, will be the best company. Nice neighborhood with begonias, pelargoniums and balsams, the flowers of which have a red-pinkish tint. Marigolds of low-growing varieties with lemon or yellow flowers will contrast well next to them. Lobelia species with creeping shoots can be used as ground covers, and if the stems are elongated and hanging, then bunches of seedlings can be planted in pots as an ampelous culture. In the latter case, it is good to place nearby plants with similar shoots, such as chlorophytums or asparagus.
Recommendations for breeding lobelia
To enjoy the bushes of this delicate plant, you can use seed or vegetative methods, the latter is cuttings.
Seed propagation of lobelia
To grow seedlings, seed is sown in February or no later than the end of March. Since the seeds are very small, they are mixed with sand, and then simply "salt" the soil in the seedling box with this composition. The sowing soil is loose and nutritious. You can take a special commercial seedling soil or a mixture of peat and river sand. Such a substrate is placed in a container a couple of days before sowing and sprayed with phytosporin for disinfection. When the seeds are sown on the surface of the soil mixture, they are not sealed, but simply slammed into the ground.
The container is rolled up with a transparent plastic wrap and placed closer to the heat, on a sunny windowsill or to a radiator. With such germination, it is recommended to carry out daily ventilation and if the soil begins to dry out, then it is sprayed from a spray bottle. After the shoots appear (usually after a week), the shelter is removed. Then they make sure that direct sunlight does not shine on the seedlings at lunchtime, as they can burn the delicate leaves. When young lobelias acquire a pair of leaf blades, a dive is performed, usually 5 weeks after sowing.
You can use plastic or peat cups (the latter will facilitate subsequent transplantation into open ground). The diameter of the container should be no more than 5 cm. The soil is the same as when sowing. 5-10 plants are placed in each container, which in the future will make it possible to get a lush bush. This is because the seedlings are very small and resemble moss in themselves, so planting one at a time will be a very laborious process. Consequently, when diving with a plastic knife, a bunch of young plants is simply separated and transferred to a pot.
A recess is made in the ground, where a bunch of lobelia seedlings is placed, then soil mixture is poured around them and slightly compressed. The smallest watering is needed, followed by the soil again. Due to the small size of the plants, this process is quite painstaking and should be patient.
Pots with seedlings are placed in a well-lit place with heat indicators in the range of 13-17 degrees. It happens that flower growers use peat cassettes or tablets for sowing. Then the seeds are placed in them with a toothpick. Its tip is moistened and dipped into the seeds, when a couple of pieces stick to it, they are placed in a tablet, moistened and waited for sprouts. When the height of the seedlings reaches 3-5 cm, their tops are pinched to stimulate branching.
After May comes and there will be no return frosts, then they are transplanted to a prepared place in the garden. But before that, it is recommended to start hardening the seedlings in a week. Containers with seedlings are placed on the windowsill of an open window for 10-15 minutes, gradually increasing the time every day until it reaches around the clock.
In the case when lobelia was dug up for the winter, planted in a pot and kept indoors, then with the arrival of spring it is recommended to carry out cuttings.
Propagation of lobelia by cuttings
By the beginning of spring days, the house plant grows green shoots, which are usually used for harvesting. The length of the cutting will be no more than 8–10 cm. All lower leaves from such blanks are removed and planted in pots filled with peat-sandy soil. A shelter from a cut plastic bottle is placed on top or the seedlings are wrapped in plastic wrap. When the cuttings take root, they are transplanted at the end of May to a permanent place.
You can put the shoot in the soil and pin it in place of contact with it. When the cuttings take root, they are carefully separated from the mother bush and planted in the flower bed.
See breeding rules for Platicodon
How to avoid diseases and pests when cultivating lobelia in the garden?
Although the plant is unpretentious, if the rules of cultivation are violated, it can be exposed to both diseases and attacks of harmful insects.
Lobelia diseases are distinguished:
- Black leg during which a dark constriction appears on the root neck of the seedling, while the seedling lays down and dies. For treatment, it is recommended to treat seeds with drugs like Ridomio Gold or Previkur. After processing, flower growers add river sand or peat chips, which will stimulate the growth of fresh root shoots.
- Gray rot affecting some parts of stems and leaves. Brown spots appear on them, which, with increasing humidity, become covered with a coating resembling dust. It is usually caused by anamorphous fungi, which are activated by an excess of nitrogen in fertilizing, a decrease in heat and light, or an increase in humidity. During treatment, all parts that have been affected are removed, and then they are treated with a Bordeaux mixture or fungicidal agents.
- Tracheomycotic wilting, striking both seedlings and adults. With this disease, the foliage withers and turns yellow. Treatment is similar to that of a black leg. But it is still recommended to remove diseased plants, and sprinkle the soil in their place with chalk or lime.
The pests that annoy lobelia are recognized:
- Thrips, leading to deformation of the leaves, a reduction in the flowering period. Treatment with insecticidal preparations is recommended, for example, Aktara, Fitoverm or Aktellik.
- Slugs, nibbling foliage. They are harvested by hand or aldehyde agents such as Meta Groza are used.
Read also about diseases and pests when caring for a bracken.
Interesting notes on lobelia and the use of colors
Some varieties of this plant have long been familiar to folk healers for their properties. If we talk about Lobelia inflated (Lobelia inflata) or, as it is also called, Indian tobacco, then an alkaloid called lobeline is found in it. Its hydrochloride is used for respiratory diseases of infectious origin. Among such diseases are highlighted: bronchial asthma and whooping cough, as well as to eliminate the symptoms of acute heart failure. Lobelia-based drugs will be useful with a sharp decrease in blood pressure and large blood loss. And in general, the effect on the human body of drugs based on lobelia is very favorable, while the tone rises.
If lobelia is introduced into the composition of herbal preparations, then it has the property of transferring its influence to those parts of the human body that most require medicinal effects. Such compounds also have an effect on the central nervous system. After long-term work on the study of the action of the plant, scientists have found about forty components in lobelia that affect the body with great efficiency, inhibiting the causes and manifestations of viral and inflammatory processes, for example, abscesses, manifestations of Staphylococcus aureus.
For many years, work has been carried out to identify the positive effect on the body of lobelia in epilepsy and to prevent seizures.
Types and varieties of lobelia
Annual varieties
Despite the fact that there are a large number of such species, it is customary to use about twenty in gardening. In this case, the best are considered:
Lobelia erinus (Lobelia erinus)
May occur under the names Lobelia garden or Black lobelia … This type is basic for breeding a huge number of varietal forms that have come to the taste of flower growers. The native area of growth falls on the territory of South Africa, where the plant can be found on a wet substrate among stones in shrubs. At the end of the 18th century, the species was brought to Europe, where it is still actively cultivated. An annual of small size with fragile shoots with abundant branching. With the help of branches, a spherical bush is formed. Shoot length is 0.1–0.4 m, internodes in them are quite close. The branches cover small leaf plates of simple oval outlines, their edge is scalloped or serrated. The length of the leaf is in the range of 3–6 cm with a width of 1.5 cm.
When blooming, small flowers open, the diameter of which approaches 1.5–2 cm. The corolla is composed of five petals, of which 3 lower ones are larger in size with a fan arrangement, and the rest are small and narrowed in shape. A natural variation of a very eye catching pure blue color scheme. All varieties bred to date have flowers of various colors. The best varieties are:
- Riviera Rose, with a rich crimson color of the petals and a cream-colored eye.
- Blue Sky (Sky Blu) or Sky Blue flowers of this variety are characterized by a sky blue monochromatic color scheme.
- Regatta blue They are distinguished by flowers with violet-blue petals, which have a yellow eye at the base.
Lobelia Ampelnaya
also called Lobelia climbing … An annual with very thin, but very leafy branches, characterized by a bright green tint. Their height can vary within 10-15 cm, the shoots are usually inclined to the soil. In this case, the length of the stems reaches half a meter. Small leaves give the plant an airy appearance of a greenish cloud. The shape of the leaf plate is oblong. With the arrival of summer, buds open in the upper part of the stems, the corolla in which is two-lipped. The upper lip is made up of a pair of spliced petals, the lower one is assembled from the remaining three. The color is very bright, bluish blue.
The most popular garden varieties are:
- Sapphire, capable of forming shoots of elongated drooping branches and covered throughout with flowers of bright blue color with a whitish eye in the central part.
- Red cascade, with stems about 35 cm long. Over time, they bend towards the soil and in the summer are covered with a large number of flowers with a raspberry or bright pink color.
Lobelia strong (Lobelia alida)
has large-sized stems with rough outlines. The flowers are painted in blue or purple color, there is a snow-white spot inside.
Lobelia tenuior
compact and graceful in size, but the owner of large flower sizes. The best variety is Blue Wings or Blue Vengs, not exceeding 20–25 cm in height with bright blue single flowers.
Perennial lobelia species are more common than their annual representatives. There are also a large number of them, but let's highlight the most effective ones:
Lobelia cardinalis
may occur under synonymous names Lobelia purple or Lobelia blood red … The owner is gigantic in comparison with other varieties. Its branched upright shoots can reach about a meter in height and width. The branches are covered with dark emerald foliage, while they, and the surface of the leaves, are covered with short bluish hairs. From the beginning of June, buds begin to bloom, turning into flowers that form spike-shaped or racemose inflorescences. The color of the petals is a rich bloody ebb.
Plants usually prefer to form groups, covering wet areas near natural or artificial reservoirs, swamps, in shallow water. Can be used in horticulture to decorate coastal areas. Possesses increased frost resistance.
Fire lobelia (Lobelia fulgens)
may be named Lobelia is brilliant. The height of the shoots is 0.75 m or more. Foliage usually takes on both a greenish tint and occurs with a reddish tint. The inflorescences are presented in the form of spikelets formed from bright red flowers. The most popular variety is Queen Victoria whose branches can approach the height indicators of one and a half meters. If the bush is mulched, then it is possible to quietly winter in the open field.
Lobelia dortmanna
may be named Lobelia is water. Shoots are upright, grow partially submerged in water. They are characterized by weak branching, but at the base they have a leaf rosette. The foliage in it measures 7–8 cm in length, the outlines of the leaf are the same in width (linear). This outlet is completely in the water. In the last week of July, stems rise above the water, crowned with single snow-white flowers. It happens that the petals are cast in a pinkish or bluish tone.
Lobelia fine (Lobelia x speciosa)
differs in upright stems with branching. Their height is 60–90 cm. The leaves on the branches are dark emerald, linear. The end of June is characterized by the disclosure of racemose inflorescences, with loose outlines. They are made up of tubular flowers. When opened, the corolla of the flower is 3 cm in diameter. Its shape is asymmetric, its color is bright, it can be pink or carmine red. The best bred varieties:
- Fan Scarlet in height, such a bush does not grow more than 0.6 m. Fiery red flowers are collected in the inflorescence.
- Deep Red compliment stems, which can be extended to a height of 0.7 m, their color is burgundy-brown. The entire surface is covered with green foliage. The leaves are narrow. At the tops of the shoots, inflorescences of a purple color are formed.
- Russian princess characterized by a height of 0.9 m. Erect shoots. They and the leaves have a purple-bronze tint. The inflorescence consists of flowers with bright pink petals.
See tips for planting and caring for an open field boat.
Video about growing lobelia in the garden:
