The Lovely Lobelia For Container Planting or for Hanging Baskets...

Also called Asthma Weed, Indian Tobacco, Pukeweed...

About the Lobelia

In past years I stayed away from growing the Lobelia annual bedding plant. Why? I find it very difficult if at all possible, to deadhead. Also, it does have a habit of becoming rather leggy and unattractive as the summer season continues.

When I do use this annual, I do so as a filler and spiller in my garden containers and hanging baskets and I am very fussy as to what the container looks like at the garden center. I tend to choose the ones that are not yet in bloom.

Did you read the heading? I had no idea that the Lobelia plant had herbal qualities. Did You? From the University of Maryland Medical Center I have learned the following: The Native Americans called it Indian Tobacco as this plant has an active ingredient 'lobeline', which is similar to nicotine.

At one time the Lobelia was an active ingredient in the smoking cessation packages. I'm not too sure if it still is.

In the 19th century, American physicians prescribed it to induce vomiting to remove toxins from the body, ergo the name Pukeweed. It was also used to help treat asthma.

How To Grow The Lobelia

Thankfully, gardeners today use the Lobelia as an annual filler, mostly in hanging baskets and pots. The mounding variety can also make a good edging or border plant within the flowerbed but cannot be left without ample watering. Once these annuals, whether it be the mounding or trailing, dry out there's no getting them back.

I plant the True Blue - Blue Moon with its deep indigo blue color. On occasion I have been known to let the plant dry out and I have suffered the consequences of the plant becoming an ugly brown, dry looking and dying. As mentioned above, the annual does not bounce back once it has been deprived of water.

Even though I did say that it is almost impossible to deadhead this annual, but nowadays I find that I do. Perhaps I find it therapeutic...I'm not sure. And I certainly don't pick off every dried flower. So, should it become leggy as it grows, simply take your garden scissors and cut it back by 1/3.

The companion plants for the Lobelia (in baskets or containers) are endless, but here are a few: Ageratum, Potunias, Fuchsias, African Daisy, the Verbena, or Geraniums.

Vist my Site Index Page for additional annuals and perennials to plant in your next flowerbed garden design.

The Lobelia Features:

• comes in 2 forms: mound and trailing
• mounded variety grows to approx 4" tall
• great for edging and rock gardens
• trailing variety grows to approx a length of 12"
• most use it in hanging baskets and containers as fillers
• prefers full shade to part sun. Avoid hot, all sun locations
• this plant does not like to dry out, keep it moist, water frequently
• comes in many colors: pink, dark blue, light blue, white, red, lilac purple
• shear plants back if they become too leggy and not blooming well

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