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Writer's pictureKimberly Simmen

Native Plant of the Week: Great Blue Lobelia

Family: Campanulaceae


Name: Lobelia siphilitica


Bloom Time: July-September


Flower: blue, deep lavender


Soil Condition: moist-average, occasionally wet


Light: partial sun, shade


Size: 2-4' tall, 12-18" wide


Native Range: Eastern North America including Long Island


Zone: 4-9


Great blue lobelia is a great plant for full shade to full sun! It is a short-lived plant as the plant with the flower stem will die off but others will soon take its place. It is also a great naturalizer as it will self-sow readily in the garden.


Maintenance: none necessary.


Benefits: juglone (black walnut) tolerant, clay soil tolerant, drought tolerant, nectar source, bumble bee magnet, great for hummingbirds and butterflies


Fun Facts: It was thought this plant could cure syphilis and other venereal diseases, hence the species name of siphilitica.


Companion Plants: Chelone glabra (turtlehead), Carex woodii (pretty sedge), Carex grayii (mace sedge), Anemone canadensis (wild columbine), Caltha palustris (marsh marigold), Eutrochium purpureum (sweet joe pye weed), Clethra alnifolia (sweet pepperbush)


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