If the flower display does decline in high heat, cutting plants back encourages a continuous bloom set. Newer cultivars have been developed for improved heat tolerance that keeps them blooming regardless of the temperature. They thrive in the coolness of spring, and older varieties benefit from some shade in midsummer. Lobelia is adaptable to most soils but does best in slightly acidic conditions with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5 Photo by Lorna Kring. Plants do well in full sun to part shade and require well-draining soil enriched with organic matter. Space seedlings four to six inches apart. When transplanting seedlings or nursery starts into beds or containers, plant at the same depth and width as the container they are growing in. To harden off, place seedlings in a sheltered location outdoors for an hour a day, and gradually extend the time they spend outside over the course of a week or two. Germination occurs in 15 to 21 days.Īfter four to six weeks, when seedlings are two to four inches tall, you can start to gradually harden them off to prepare them for outdoor conditions.ĭespite their preference for cool weather, they won’t survive a late spring frost – don’t plant out until nighttime temperatures remain consistently above 60☏. Keep the soil evenly moist but not wet.Ĭover with a clear hood or place in a polythene bag to keep seeds moist and warm. Provide bottom watering or water gently with a mist sprayer to avoid disturbing the seeds. Place in a location with a bright light – or under a grow light – and a soil temperature of 65-75☏. Use a small spoon to disperse the seed as evenly as possible over the entire surface area.ĭo not cover seeds with soil, but gently firm the planting medium down with your fingertips after seeding. Some nurseries sell seeds as “multi-seed pellets,” with multiple tiny seeds that are are coated in an inert substance to create a larger pellet for easy sowing.Īdd a good seed starting mix to the cell packs and gently sprinkle the seed on top of the soil. ![]() Six-packs of trays are available at Home Depot. The divisions make for easy transplanting and they come with a humidity dome that assists germination. These 12-plant trays are well suited for starting lobelia. Lobelia seeds are extremely small and fine-textured but are easy to cultivate if started indoors eight to 12 weeks before transplanting out – generally, two to four weeks after your last frost date.ĭirect sowing outdoors after the average last frost date in your area is possible, but germination is much less reliable and indoor sowing is recommended.īecause the seed is so fine, seedlings often mat together and can be difficult to pull apart when transplanting.įor this reason, pellets, or trays with 12 or 24-cell plug inserts, help to make transplanting easier – and with less plant loss. ![]() siphilitica), or blue cardinal flower, is another perennial wildflower with long-lasting, tall stems that feature bright blue flowers. cardinalis), is a popular perennial for its tall, showy spikes of scarlet-red flowers. cardinalis, cardinal flower.Ĭardinal flower ( L. Within the genus are some well-known North American wildflowers that make attractive perennials in the garden as well. Thanks to its wild popularity with the Victorians, lobelia arrived in North American gardens in the mid-1800s. It made its way to England around 1760 and became a star of the Victorian “bedding” craze – the vivid blues were a favorite for mass planting in the front of large, colorful beds. erinus was first introduced into Holland from the Cape province of South Africa in the 1680s. In both the upright and trailing forms, mature dimensions are typically four to nine inches tall with a spread of eight to 16 inches. Lobelia can also be grown as a perennial where winter temperatures remain above freezing. They thrive in cooler temperatures and make an excellent choice for areas with dappled or light shade. Highly attractive to butterflies and other pollinators, plants bloom from mid spring to early autumn. Plant foliage is light and lacy, with thin ovate leaves and serrated edges. The two-lipped flowers grow in large clusters and often feature attractive white eyes. ![]() This tender perennial is typically grown as an annual for its low and trailing growth habit that provides terrific ornamental value anywhere it’s planted.Ī member of the bellflower or Campanulaceae family, the small tubular flowers have a large, fan-shaped lower lip of three fused sepals and a two-sepal upper lip in intense shades of blue, mauve, pink, violet, and white. It gives a lush and reliable display, making it highly popular for containers, border edging, short-season fillers, hanging baskets, rockeries, and window boxes. A dwarf species, it’s commonly known as annual, edging, garden, or trailing lobelia. erinus is one of over 400 species in the genus Lobelia.
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