Lobelia erinus
Edging lobelia
Common names: Trailing lobelia, Garden lobelia
At a glance
- Light
- Full sun
- Pot size
- from 2 l
- Lifespan
- Annual
- Flowering
- May–Oct
- Hardiness
- Frost-sensitive
Photo: André Karwath aka Aka · CC BY-SA 2.5 · Source
Description
Lobelia erinus, commonly known as edging lobelia, is a compact annual plant from southern Africa that blooms in bright blue, violet, or white throughout the summer. Its bushy or trailing growth makes it ideal for hanging baskets, balcony boxes, and pots, where it forms dense flower carpets. Popular cultivars such as ‘Cascade Blue’ and ‘Techno Heat Blue’ are especially heat‑tolerant and produce abundant blooms. It pairs well with other summer flowers to create vibrant color contrasts on balconies and terraces.
Care instructions
Plant in a warm, sunny to semi‑shaded spot, too shady will result in sparse flowering. Water regularly and evenly, as the plant is sensitive to drought and will quickly cease blooming under water stress. After the first flush in early summer, lightly prune the stems to encourage a second, vigorous bloom that can continue into autumn. Lobelia erinus is not winter hardy and is grown as an annual.
Garden year
FloweringMay–Oct
Soil & site
For your garden
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