|
Growing: Lobelia |
| By Ellen Brown |
|
|
| Botanical Name: | Lobelia |
| Life Cycle: | annual |
| Planting Time: | spring or summer |
| Height: | 3" to 9" |
| Exposure: | full sun (cooler zones) or partial shade (warmer zones) |
| Soil: | moist, well-drained soil with a neutral pH |
| Hardiness: | dependent on variety |
| Bloom Time: | summer |
| Flower: | variety of colors |
| Foliage: | green |
| Propagation: | seeds |
| Suggested Use: | beds, borders, edging, ground cover, fillers, planters and boxes |
| Growing Hints: | Due to its seed to bloom time (about 2 months), lobelia is often sold as small seedlings already in bloom. These can be transplanted 4 to 6 inches apart after all danger of frost is past. Seeds can also be started indoors from 10 to 12 weeks before last frost date. Seeds are small and should be broadcast on top of fine grade soil and left uncovered. Removing spent flower spikes will encourage plants to produce new growth. |
| Interesting Facts: | Lobelia was first introduced in the wild form over 200 years ago from the Cape of Good Hope region in South Africa. Also known as Indian tobacco, it has historically been smoked as a treatment for respiratory ailments by Native Americans. In the 19th century, American physicians began to prescribe lobelia to induce vomiting in order to detoxify the body. This is how is it also earned the name "puke weed." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
No Feedback Yet
Be the first to post feedback! Click here to post feedback.
|
|
|
| Login using the form on the top of the page to post feedback if you have registered with ThriftyFun. If you have not yet registered, click here. It's FREE!. If you are not registered you can post feedback as a guest below. Please don't use your email address for your name because spam robots can dredge it from our site. Please do not post your feedback more than ONCE. We need to approve all guest feedback and it may take from minutes to hours for that to happen. |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
