Lobelia siphilitica
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Tried and True Recommended by 6 Professionals
Species Native to Missouri
Common Name: blue cardinal flower
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Campanulaceae
Zone: 4 to 9
Native Range: Eastern United States
Garden Location: Kemper Center Landscape, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Flower Borders
Height: 2 to 3 feet
Spread: 1 to 1.5 feet
Bloom Time: July to September
Bloom Color: 
Bloom Description: Blue
Sun: Full sun to part shade
Water: Medium to wet
Maintenance: Low
Flowers: Showy Flowers
Tolerates: Wet Soil, Dense Shade, Deer
Uses: Rain Garden, Will Naturalize

Culture

Easily grown in rich, humusy, medium to wet soils in full sun to part shade. Needs constant moisture. Will tolerate full sun in cool, northern climates, but otherwise appreciates part shade. Divide clumps in spring as needed. May self-seed in optimum growing conditions, forming attractive colonies.

Noteworthy Characteristics

Great lobelia is a Missouri native perennial which typically grows in moist to wet locations along streams, sloughs, springs, swamps, meadows and in low wooded areas. A clump-forming perennial which features light to dark blue, tubular, 2-lipped flowers with the three lobes of the lower lip appearing more prominent than the two lobes of the upper lip. Flowers arise from the upper leaf axils forming a dense terminal raceme atop stiff, unbranched, leafy stalks typically rising 2-3' tall. Finely-toothed, lance-shaped, light green leaves (to 5" long). Late summer bloom period. Species name of siphilitica arose from a prior medicinal use of the plant in the treatment of venereal disease. Also sometimes commonly called blue cardinal flower.

Problems

No serious disease or insect problems.

Garden Uses

Provides late summer bloom to the perennial border, wild garden, native plant garden, woodland garden or naturalized planting. Also effective near ponds or streams.

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