True blue flowers are a rare treasure in the garden, and Lobelia delivers them in abundance. Also known as Edging Lobelia or Trailing Lobelia, this dainty, mounding or trailing annual forms a soft, lush mound of small, lance-shaped, bright green leaves. From spring through autumn, it produces an endless succession of masses of tiny, two-lipped, fan-shaped flowers in stunning shades of deep violet-blue, sky blue, purple, pink, or white, often with a distinctive small white or yellow eye.
Proudly native to South Africa—with its original home right here in the Cape Province—Lobelia is wonderfully at home in local gardens. It thrives in full sun to partial shade, though in our climate, afternoon shade in hotter inland areas protects it from fierce midday sun and prolongs blooming. It prefers rich, well-drained, fertile soil kept consistently moist but not waterlogged. Once established, it’s a reasonably tough annual, but it will not tolerate severe frost. With both compact, mounding varieties perfect for edging and trailing types ideal for hanging baskets, it’s a superb, low-maintenance plant for adding soft, colourful accents to sunny or partially shaded spots.
Key Features:
- Masses of tiny, jewel-like flowers in violet-blue, sky blue, or white over a long season
- A proud Cape native, perfectly adapted to local conditions
- A magnet for bees and butterflies throughout its long flowering season
- Available in compact forms for edging or trailing forms for hanging baskets
Gardening Note: Plant in well-drained, fertile soil in full sun to partial shade—afternoon shade helps in hot summer areas. Water regularly to keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged; they dislike “wet feet”. Trim plants back by about half if they stop flowering during summer heat; they’ll reward you with a fresh flush when cooler weather returns. Protect from severe frost in colder inland areas.
