What red means in lobelia terms
Wikipedia notes that the cultivated range includes magenta forms, which are the ones sold as red. Expect a rich crimson-pink, often with a small white eye, not a pillar-box red. Named cultivars from the species include 'Rosamund' and 'Riviera Rose', though colours vary between seed strains and suppliers.
Where red lobelia works
The strong colour makes a good accent where blue or white lobelia might be lost:
- as a tight line along a gravel path;
- spilling from a terracotta pot with silver foliage;
- in a window box, facing a shaded verandah.
Planting calendar
Cool-season performance is the rule. Set plants out in spring in Melbourne, Hobart and the highlands; in Sydney, Adelaide and Perth, autumn is the better start. In Brisbane and the north it only suits the drier, cooler months, and the wet-season heat usually ends it.
Everyday care for red lobelia
- Full sun in cool districts, afternoon shade elsewhere.
- Liquid feed every two weeks while flowering.
- Never let a basket dry out completely.
- Trim by half after the first flush to promote another.
Keeping pets safe around red lobelia
The ASPCA lists the closely related Lobelia cardinalis as toxic to dogs, cats and horses. Garden lobelia is best kept away from pets.
A tip for tidy results: sow or plant in clumps of five or six rather than singly. Magenta lobelia tends to look washed out as a lone plant but strong in a block, and it knits together quickly along an edge. If a pot starts to look bare in the middle, push in a few new plants rather than starting again.
