Lobelia

The genus Lobelia includes more than 30 annual and perennial herbaceous and shrubby plant species. Lobelia is common everywhere. It is characterized by a long and abundant summer flowering. Small, irregular flowers come in various colors: blue, blue, white, reddish-purple. It blooms throughout the growing season. Lobelia erinus, a perennial plant native to South Africa, is the most widely cultivated plant. The leaves are small oval, and at the top of the shoots are linear pointed light green in color. A huge variety of varieties and garden forms have been bred with different intensity of blue spectrum coloring, for example, Crystal Palace, and other flower colors, for example, Rosamund - red-carmine with a white core, and the Snowball variety has large and white flowers. Collected in a brush, the scarlet flowers of dark red lobelia (L. cardinalis), which originated from the northern United States, bloom in July and August. This perennial species is stable only in temperate climates; it is often grown as a border plant. Lobelia brilliant (L. fulgens) native to Mexico-a perennial unpretentious species used in borders. Leaves are purple in color; from June to October, the plants are covered with flowers collected in crimson-red spikes. 'Rosendale It is characterized by dark green leaves and flowers of intense red color. Lobelia blue (L. siphilitica) originated from the eastern United States. This persistent perennial species is used mainly in curbs. Light blue, collected in ears of 40-50 cm long flowers bloom in the period from June to September. Lobelia thin (L. tenuior), native to Australia, is a long-term tender species, grown as an annual. Thin erect shoots are covered with oval light green leaves. In the period from June to September, it blooms profusely with bright blue flowers. Lobelia x vedrariense is a very tall (up to 1.2 m) perennial stable hybrid with characteristic funnel-shaped purple flowers. Lobelia beautiful (Lobelia x speciosa), bred by crossing lobelia dark red (L. cardinalis), lobelia brilliant (L. fulgens) and lobelia blue (L. siphilitica), lanceolate leaves and lilac-red flowers with purple spots. Lobelia gerarda (Lobelia x gerardii), a hybrid obtained by crossing dark red lobelia (L. cardinalis) and blue lobelia (L. siphilitica), has oval leaves and purple flowers covered with purple-red spots.

The genus Lobelia includes more than 30 annual and perennial herbaceous and shrubby plant species. Lobelia is common everywhere. It is characterized by a long and abundant summer flowering. Small, irregular flowers come in various colors: blue, blue, white, reddish-purple. It blooms throughout the growing season.

Lobelia erinus, a perennial plant native to South Africa, is the most widely cultivated plant. The leaves are small oval, and at the top of the shoots are linear pointed light green in color. A huge variety of varieties and garden forms have been bred with different intensity of blue spectrum coloring, for example, Crystal Palace, and other flower colors, for example, Rosamund - red-carmine with a white core, and the Snowball variety has large and white flowers.

Collected in a brush, the scarlet flowers of dark red lobelia (L. cardinalis), which originated from the northern United States, bloom in July and August. This perennial species is stable only in temperate climates; it is often grown as a border plant.

Lobelia brilliant (L. fulgens) native to Mexico-a perennial unpretentious species used in borders. Leaves are purple in color; from June to October, the plants are covered with flowers collected in crimson-red spikes. 'Rosendale It is characterized by dark green leaves and flowers of intense red color.

Lobelia blue (L. siphilitica) originated from the eastern United States. This persistent perennial species is used mainly in curbs. Light blue, collected in ears of 40-50 cm long flowers bloom in the period from June to September.

Lobelia thin (L. tenuior), native to Australia, is a long-term tender species, grown as an annual. Thin erect shoots are covered with oval light green leaves. In the period from June to September, it blooms profusely with bright blue flowers.

Lobelia x vedrariense is a very tall (up to 1.2 m) perennial stable hybrid with characteristic funnel-shaped purple flowers.

Lobelia beautiful (Lobelia x speciosa), bred by crossing lobelia dark red (L. cardinalis), lobelia brilliant (L. fulgens) and lobelia blue (L. siphilitica), lanceolate leaves and lilac-red flowers with purple spots.

Lobelia gerarda (Lobelia x gerardii), a hybrid obtained by crossing dark red lobelia (L. cardinalis) and blue lobelia (L. siphilitica), has oval leaves and purple flowers covered with purple-red spots.

Cultivation

Perennial species are used for beautiful grassy borders, edging and in flower beds to create bright spots. Annuals, as well as many perennial species grown as annuals, are cultivated in pots, flat vessels and hanging baskets - on balconies and terraces. Some species, such as dark red lobelia, blue lobelia and Gerard lobelia, are suitable for cultivation in humid environments, such as ponds, wetlands, lakes. Lobelia prefer highly fertile, sufficiently moist soil. In the garden, perennial unpretentious species are closed for the winter, mulching the soil with straw, foliage or other materials.

Location

Lobelia prefer a partially shaded area, preferably protected from the winds. In general, plants are light-and heat-loving.

Temperature

There are both stable and semi-stable lobelia species. The optimal air temperature is 15-20 °C.

Watering

In the spring and summer period, abundant watering is required: stagnation of water is not terrible - lobelia tolerate temporary waterlogging.

Transplant

Annual and perennial species grown in this way (for example, lobelia erinus and lobelia tonica) are transplanted in May, while others can be transplanted earlier, in April.

Reproduction

Propagate by seed. Annual species, such as lobelia erinus and lobelia thin, are sown in February, sprinkling the seeds with soil and maintaining the temperature at 16-18 °C. Seedlings are transplanted, observing a certain distance between plants, and grown at a temperature of about 10 °C. Permanent planting takes place in May. Perennial species are sown in March at a temperature of 13-16 °C. When seedlings appear, they are planted singly. Perennial species can also be propagated in March by dividing the bush.

Diseases

Lobelia are usually not susceptible to diseases. If the growth of plants is hindered and they begin to dry, most likely, insufficient watering or thus exposed to the bright scorching sun.

Acquisition

Lobelia seeds at the end of winter are quite easy to find in gardening centers and flower shops, and, of course, in nurseries. In spring, you can buy flowering seedlings in pots - the plants will bloom all summer.