Lobelia puberula
An herbaceous perennial in Campanulaceae native to the eastern and south-central United States, it grows 1–3 feet tall on wet banks, swamps, and ditches and bears blue flowers with a white throat.
Common Names
Downy Lobelia, Blue Lobelia, Purple Dewdrop
Summary
Downy Lobelia (Lobelia puberula) is a perennial herb in the Campanulaceae family native to the eastern and south-central United States. It typically grows 2–4 feet tall with alternate, simple, toothed leaves and densely hairy stems. The plant bears blue to violet flowers with a white throat, arranged on a one-sided spike, and blooms from July to October in moist habitats such as moist sandy open ground, low woods, hammocks, swamps, meadows, and open woods. It tolerates full sun to partial shade with consistently moist to wet soils, across textures from loam to sand, and has a hardiness range of zones 4a–9b. Useful in native landscapes, border plantings, wildflower gardens, bog gardens, and along pond or stream margins; propagation occurs by seed or division; attracts pollinators including bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds; and is deer resistant.
Lifecycle
Perennial
Height
1-3 feet
Spread
12-18 inches
Hardiness Zones
Zones 4a-9b
Sunlight Requirements
Full Sun to Partial Shade.
Soil Type
Moist, well-drained soil, preferably loamy or sandy.
Soil Drainage
Consistently moist, well-drained soils.
Soil pH
Slightly acidic to neutral
Bloom Color
Blue to violet
Bloom Time
Summer and Fall
Foliage Color
Dark green, Green
Fall Foliage Color
Red
Leaf Lifecycle
Other
Growth Rate
Fast
Seasons of Interest
Summer and Fall
Propagation Methods
Seeds, Cuttings, Division
Attracts Wildlife
Attracts butterflies
Taxonomy
- Taxonomic Rank
- Species
- Author
- Michx.
- Publication
- Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 152 (1803)
Superior Taxa
- Kingdom
- Plantae
- Subkingdom
- Pteridobiotina
- Phylum
- Angiosperms
- Order
- Asterales
- Family
- Campanulaceae
- Genus
- Lobelia
Synonyms
Rapuntium puberulum Lobelia puberula f. candida Lobelia glandulosa var. obtusifolia Lobelia puberula var. mineolana Lobelia puberula var. obtusifolia Lobelia puberula f. argutidentata Lobelia puberula f. simulans Lobelia puberula var. simulans Lobelia puberula var. glabella Lobelia puberula var. subglabra Dortmanna puberula Lobelia puberula var. puberula Lobelia puberula f. puberula Lobelia puberula var. laeviuscula