Flower of the Week: Edging Lobelia
You may have often seen the gentle yet bright blue of edging lobelia (Lobelia erinus) in gardens or balconies. They bloom tirelessly from the end of spring through the early fall with small, butterfly-like flowers.
Originally from South Africa, those adorable “butterflies” were introduced to Europe in the mid-18th Century and quickly became a favorite of Victorian aristocrats.
In 1759, edging lobelia was introduced into England as a fancy novelty plant. Later, as a zeal for flower carpets took Europe in a whirlwind, aristocrats often adorned their gorgeous flower carpet with over tens of thousands of plants.
Among all the extravagant flowers, aristocrats particularly preferred the three eye-catching primary colors – bright red, yellow, and blue – and the blue of edging lobelia was favored the most.
However, the fervor didn’t last long. As the enthusiasm for tapestry faded, edging lobelia’s popularity waned, too. But at the end of the 20th Century, the style of American gardens transitioned from conservative to ornate. Container planting and hanging baskets gained popularity, granting edging lobelia a comeback in the eyes of the public.
Blue and purple are the most common colors of edging lobelia, but there are more. Lobelia has been cultivated to bloom in elegant white, delicate pink, and exquisite carmine. Also, there are blue and purple flowers in various shades, giving edging lobelia a more dynamic variety.
Many famous cultivars have won the Royal Horticultural Society’s Award of Garden Merit. Not only are they in beautiful colors, but also given lovely names, such as ‘Crystal Palace’, ‘Mrs. Clibran’, ‘Riviera Blue Eyes’, etc.
If you intend to design a rock garden or a butterfly garden, edging lobelia is worth trying, as its bright colors and sweet nectar attract quite a few types of butterflies. If you grow bright purple or red edging lobelia, you may lure hummingbirds to your garden.
Though small, edging lobelia creates an impressive sight when planted in large numbers in flower beds or for borders.
The Isle of Skye in the UK is a good spot to view edging lobelia. Semi-wild edging lobelia quietly blooms every year from April to September, bestowing a sense of age-old mystery upon the land where the ancient Gaelic culture is preserved.
This place also enjoys the reputation for being “closest to the sky of the entire UK,” with various landscapes, including highlands, stone forests, and forests. Magnificent, boundless, and raw, the isle oozes with a primitive beauty only found in fairylands.
Edging lobelia is a strongly vital plant, but it requires specific temperatures. Generally, temperate zones are ideal habitats for it.
It isn’t resistant to cold, so it’s best to keep it at temperatures around 59°F-64°F (15°C-18°C). Keep it indoors in the winter and early spring to avoid frost damage. Edging lobelia likes ample sunlight, but doesn’t tolerate sweltering heat, so shade it from the sun on hot summer days.
To pot-cultivate edging lobelia, choose loose, humus-rich, sandy soil with good drainage. Water once every 7-10 days and apply nitrogen fertilizers once every week during its growing period.
To help your plant grow strong and bloom abundantly, prune it patiently and delicately during the growing period to achieve your ideal shape.
Size: 8 inch (20 cm) tall
Hardiness: USDA Hardiness Zones 10-11
Sunlight: Full light to half shade
Soil: Loose, humus-rich sandy soil with good drainage
Blooming Time: End of spring to early fall