Lobelia

Lobelia - Distinct and much varied perennials and annuals, some of high value for the flower garden. The perennial Lobelias, like L. splendens, are amongst the finest of autumn flowers. Although fairly hardy, they are impatient of excessive moisture, and in most districts require protection during winter. It is often best to winter them in a cool house and plant out in April. Although impatient of moisture during the resting period, they revel in it when in active growth, and where beds can be prepared in the vicinity of lakes or streams, better results will be obtained than in the mixed border. In propagating in early spring they can be divided into single crowns, and these potted on soon form sturdy plants ready to plant out on the approach of warm weather. They thrive best in a free vegetable soil, and like plenty of sun, unless in the case of L. cardinalis, which I find thrives best in a partially-shaded bed. In some districts with light soils, and often near the sea, these plants do not require protection in winter. Both types may be raised freely from seed sown in gentle heat in February. There are many good varieties.

Contents 1 Related Flowers 1.1 Cardinal Flower 1.2 Lobelia Erinus 1.3 Lobelia Splendens 1.4 Lobelia Tupa 1.5 Lobelia cavanillesii 1.6 Lobelia Gerardi 1.7 Lobelia Syphilitica

Related Flowers

Cardinal Flower

See Cardinal Flower

Lobelia Erinus

See Lobelia Erinus

Lobelia Splendens

Lobelia Splendens - Also called L. fulgens, it is a brilliant and precious plant for the flower garden. Its leaves are long and narrow, and the flower-stalks taller and thicker than those of L. cardinalis, the flowers larger with broad over-lapping petals. The best known, and a handsome form of this, bears the name Queen Victoria. Its leaves are a deep purple color, and the flowers a brilliant crimson-red. Firefly is the handsomest variety in this section, and was raised in Ireland. In good rich soil it attains to a height of 5 feet, whilst in color the flowers are intensely vivid and rich. One of its merits is that it bears lateral flower-spikes around the central one much more freely than Queen Victoria, and these keep up a succession of bloom after the leading spike is past its best. Huntsman is another variety, brighter in color than Firefly. Sir R. Napier, Rob Roy, and other varieties have been obtained from it. These vary in color and habit very much, and as they are all robust, free-flowering plants, they are valuable in the autumn garden, giving brilliant effects until cut down by frost. The variety ignea has broader leaves and larger flowers.

Lobelia Tupa

Lobelia Tupa - This is also known as Tupa Fuelli, and although a native of Chili, will be found to stand well in the south protected with sifted ashes, gravel, or other loose material in autumn. It is best, however, against a south wall, and when doing well often attains a height of 6 to 8 feet; the flowers large, brick-red, in large racemes, from July to September. In deep free soils near the sea, L. Tupa is a very handsome plant.

Lobelia cavanillesii

L. cavanillesii is of more graceful habit and hardier. We have seen patches of it at the base of rockwork, where it has stood unprotected for years, several feet across. The flowers are scarlet, long and tubular. Very showy August-flowering subject.

Lobelia Gerardi

Lobelia Gerardi - A hybrid raised by Messieurs Chabanne and Goujon, is a vigorous growing and very continuous flowering plant. Before the flowering stems make their appearance it forms a rosette of leaves of a very pure green color, and resembling the rosette of the wild Chicory. The running roots are abundantly furnished with fibres. When fully grown the plant attains a height of 4 to 5 feet; the strongest flowering stems are as thick as ones thumb at the base, and branch with from twelve to fifteen clusters of fine broad flowers, which all bloom together, the whole forming a compact, rigid pyramid needing no stake or prop to support it. I have never seen any hybrid of these fine plants as good as the wild species.

Lobelia Syphilitica

Lobelia Syphilitica - A variable species, not very showy, and robust in free moist soils, it stands our winters well, and is prolific in varieties of violet and purple, varying to rose and white. A poor kind, it never had a place in my garden. The hybrids raised by crossing with the splendidly colored kinds are also a poor lot, so far as tried. L. syphilitica has rich violet-purple flowers, which mark it out for special distinction. It is valuable for grouping in the mixed border, may be left out during winter with safety, and can be lifted, divided, and replanted in spring.