Lobelia siphilitica Great Blue Lobelia

Ohio Native Plant Natural Range

To view the natural range of Lobelia siphilitica visit the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service website. Native Plant of the Year - LEAP (Lake Erie Allegheny Partnership for Biodiversity) - Native Plant of the Year 2014
Blue Lobelia flanked by five White Lobelias By Roger Dahlin

Cultivation Information Great Blue Lobelia

Lobelias nourish the bees!
Prounced - low - BeaL - ee -AH
Height - 2 to 3 ftBlooms - July - October - This is perfect timing as it Flowers later than Lobelia Carinalis, Cardinal Flower therefore providing similar source of pollen/nectar but later in the fallColor - BlueZone - 3 to 9Sun - Light Shade, SsunSoil - Moist to wetShort-Lived Perennial - Self seedsFamily - Campanulaceae
Notice the long, oblong leaves

Wildlife Significance Lobelia siphilitica

Pollination by - Bumblebees are the most efficient pollinators Bee Visitors searching for either - Pollen or Nectar - Sweet bees (Halictid spp), Yellow-Faced Bees ( Hylaeus spp) Green Sweat Bees (Augochlorini Tribe), Small Carpenter Bees (Ceratina spp). Bumblebees also feed on pollen but their main responsibility is pollinating Blue Lobelias!
On Occasion - Hummingbirds and large butterflies, like Monarch Butterflies and Swallowtail Butterflies will stop for dinner. Deer - This plant is not a favorite of deer or small mammals as it contains the chemicals lobeline and lobelanine. Ingesting the leaves of this plant will create symptoms similar to nicotine poisoning.For detailed information visit the Illinois Wildflower site
Propagation Notes Lobelia siphilitica
Stratifying Seeds
Collecting Seed - Wait until seed is dark brown, dry in a paper bag before cleaning and storing
Outside - Seeds seem to germinate best when temperatures reach 65 to 70º F. Seeds need light to germinate don't cover them with dirt
Supplies Needed For Seed Stratification 1. Zip lock plastic bag2. Few tablespoons of Vermiculite3. Dampen vermiculite - not soggy4. Store in refrigerator for 60 days Storage - Moist Cold - 60 days - Small zip lock plastic bag with a few tablespoons of moistened vermiculite Started Under florescent lights Seeds Planted - 2-9-2012Sprouted - 2-18-2012 Day Temperature - a 64 - 65°F Night Temperature - 61 - 63°F Seeds require light and cold moist storage in order to germinate
Seed Provenance Great Blue Lobelia
Nodding Onion Gardens - 2012 - presen, Native Bee-Ginnings, Pennsylvania - 2019. Prairie Moon Nursery, Winona, MN - 2010 - 2011