Posted by
ILPARW (southeast Pennsylvania - Zone 6b) on Feb 20, 2018 3:13 PM concerning plant:
This Great Blue Lobelia is a glorious perennial for moist or draining wet soils that prefers some partial shade, but can do full sun in moist soils. It is a long bloomer in August into early October. It is an easy and reliable plant, but it does not like strong completion from bigger plants. It often self-sows a lot, even getting seedlings into nearby pots. It is longer lived than the similar Cardinalflower. It is easy to transplant with shallow fibrous roots. In fact, I can pull plants right out of the ground without digging for transplanting and then just plant them as is. Some are sold by many conventional, classic nurseries and by most native plant nurseries. I have not seen this species sold by big box or Home Depot-Lowes stores. I find it occasionally planted around in yards; it should be used much more. It is a very easy perennial. Its native range is from Maine to southern Manitoba to Colorado into Texas through Alabama to North Carolina.
Posted by
jmorth (central Illinois) on Nov 10, 2011 1:41 AM concerning plant:
Habitat - Wildflower that grows in wet ground, marshes, fens, and open woodlands along streams.
Mesquakies Indians thought it could heal failing relationships if added, unbeknownst to the quarreling couple's food.
Some Indians believed it a cure for syphilis. The 'secret' was sold to some Europeans who took it to Europe where it failed to perform to expectations.
Genus named in honor of a 16th century herbalist, Matthias de l'Obel.
Posted by
jmorth (central Illinois) on Oct 30, 2011 2:51 PM concerning plant:
Likes wet ground, marshes, and fens.
Mesquakies Indians thought that chopping the roots and mixing them into food of quarrelsome couples without their knowledge would avert divorce and cause the pair to love again.
Posted by
Catmint20906 (PNW WA half hour south of Olympia - Zone 8a) on Aug 24, 2014 6:29 AM concerning plant:
Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) is a beautiful late-summer perennial native to eastern North America. Lobelia siphilitica has special value to native and bumble bees. It attracts several bee species, including digger, yellow-faced, green sweat, small carpenter, and bumble bees. Bumble bees in particular like to visit this plant and are its most frequent pollinators. This plant also supports conservation biological control by attracting beneficial insects to the garden. In addition, Great Blue Lobelia attracts hummingbirds.
Posted by
sallyg (central Maryland - Zone 7b) on May 13, 2019 7:02 AM concerning plant:
I got this from a swap several years ago. The original plant grows in a very moist spot. I have moved a few into other garden sites as well. I can't say if it prefers one site over another. It has a lot of flowers, on which I noticed one tiny unusual type bee or wasp.
Posted by
sallyg (central Maryland - Zone 7b) on May 14, 2020 7:44 PM concerning plant:
Pretty wildflower, I did not see a big variety of insects using it but did watch one certain type of bee that loved it. Makes a lot of seed, somehow had a few volunteers elsewhere in my yard last year. Sorry to say I don't think I have seen any yet this year, I do hope I have some.
