Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica
Also listed as Dortmanna siphilitica, Lobelia antisyphilitica
Also known as Blue Lobelia, Blue Cardinal Flower, Great Lobelia
Climate Match for your location
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A tall native perennial with spikes of bright blue flowers that blooms late summer through fall. It thrives in moist conditions and partial shade, attracting hummingbirds and pollinators.
Why grow it
Great blue lobelia offers reliable late-season color when many other perennials fade, making it valuable for extending bloom through fall. Unlike shorter cultivars, its tall habit (2-4 feet) works well as a backdrop planting or in rain gardens where its moisture tolerance shines compared to typical garden lobelias. It provides consistent nectar for hummingbirds and native pollinators during a season when food sources diminish.
Watch out for
This species prefers consistently moist soil and may decline during extended dry periods without supplemental watering. It can self-seed prolifically in favorable conditions, so deadheading spent flowers helps manage spread if desired. Container-grown specimens may require more frequent watering than in-ground plantings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Campanulaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
A tall native perennial with spikes of bright blue flowers that blooms late summer through fall. It thrives in moist conditions and partial shade, attracting hummingbirds and pollinators.
Climate Match for your location
See how well Great Blue Lobelia grows in your area.
Enter your ZIP code and we'll show you how this plant fits your local climate.
Why grow it
Great blue lobelia offers reliable late-season color when many other perennials fade, making it valuable for extending bloom through fall. Unlike shorter cultivars, its tall habit (2-4 feet) works well as a backdrop planting or in rain gardens where its moisture tolerance shines compared to typical garden lobelias. It provides consistent nectar for hummingbirds and native pollinators during a season when food sources diminish.
Watch out for
This species prefers consistently moist soil and may decline during extended dry periods without supplemental watering. It can self-seed prolifically in favorable conditions, so deadheading spent flowers helps manage spread if desired. Container-grown specimens may require more frequent watering than in-ground plantings.
Overview
- Form
- Growth Rate
- Size
- Dormancy
- Family
- Campanulaceae
Native to the United States
Native Range
Eastern North America
Native to: Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin, West Virginia, Wyoming
Seasonality
Bloom Season
Season of Interest
Herb
Soft non-woody plants of the field layer.
Succession Role
Tolerances & Soil
Establishment & Care
- Establishment
- Maintenance
- Propagation
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