Lobelia elongata

Common Names

Longleaf Lobelia, Blue Lobelia, Purple Lobelia, Streamside Lobelia

Summary

Lobelia elongata, commonly called Blue Lobelia or Longleaf Lobelia, is a native perennial in the Campanulaceae family from the southeastern United States, it is an erect plant reaching 3 to 6 feet tall, with thick, wide leaves and a one-sided raceme of blue, two-lipped flowers that bloom August through October, flowers attract hummingbirds and butterflies, while seeds are eaten by songbirds, it is an obligate wetland species occurring in wetlands, river and stream margins, marsh edges, and other moist habitats, in cultivation, it tolerates full sun to shade and wet soils, making it suitable for rain gardens, erosion-control landscapes, stormwater plantings, stream restoration, and wetlands mitigation, hardy in USDA zones 4a through 8b, the plant dies back to ground level in winter, with remaining stems providing habitat for wintering pollinators, and it continues to attract hummingbirds and butterflies while songbirds eat the seeds in fall and winter.

Lifecycle

Perennial

Height

24 inches-3 feet

Hardiness Zones

Zones 4a-8b

Sunlight Requirements

Ideally full Sun, tolerates Full Shade, tolerates Partial Shade

Soil Type

Moist to wet soil in wetlands

Soil Drainage

Moist but well-drained soil.

Soil pH

5.5-7.0, slightly acidic to neutral

Bloom Color

Blue to violet

Bloom Time

Fall and Summer

Foliage Color

Green

Leaf Lifecycle

Deciduous

Growth Rate

Moderate

Seasons of Interest

Summer and Fall

Propagation Methods

Division (basal offsets)

Attracts Wildlife

Attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, other pollinators (including bees), and songbirds