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Lobelia x gerardii

 
Lobelia x gerardii Vedrariensis
Lobelia x gerardii Vedrariensis
Lobelia x gerardii

Common name purple lobelia
Family campanulaceae
Life cycle perennial
Flowers purple, red (summer)
Size 3'
Light part shade
Cultural notes ordinary garden soil, not too dry
From seed germinate at room temperature, do not cover
Flowers first year from seed sown indoors early.
detailed seed-starting info below

Great medium-height perennial. Small rosette of foliage, with flower stalks in summer. Unlike its parents, L. cardinalis and L. siphilitica, this one survives in normal garden positions (without constant moisture), as long as it doesn't get hit by afternoon sun. We've had 'Vedrariensis' (photos above) for a good number of years now – our first plants came from seed, and I've found that it comes true, sporting royal blue to purple flowers. Newer to our garden is 'Ruby Slippers' (photos below), a hybrid of the same parentage, but with deep magenta flowers and more sturdily upright habit. Unfortunately, it lasted only a year.

Lobelia x gerardii Ruby Slippers
Lobelia x gerardii

We left this plant behind in our Pennsylvania garden (and wish it well); we don't grow it in Houston.

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Seed-starting details for this plant

  1. Seed from '01 trade. Baggy 70F with light (50%G, 8-28d). Not all seedlings survived
  2. Surface-sowed to 6-pack at 70F (67%G, starting 12d)
  3. Seed from '05 garden. Pot 70F, surface-sowed. Good germination, starting 12d)
  4. Seed from '09 trade. Baggy 70F with light (~80%G, 2-15d).
  5. Same seed as above. Baggy 70F with light (38%G, 10-23d)
  6. Seed from '12 garden. Baggy 70F with light (28%G, 13-19d)
  7. Seed from '12 garden. Baggy 70F (69%G, 9-21d)

I found it is better to leave sprouted seeds in baggy until leaves develop.


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