The Cape of Good Hope is one of the richest floral regions in the world. Hundreds of original species grow there, among them beautiful lobelia with heavenly blue little flowers. If their size hardly impresses anyone, their number definitely do. When in full bloom, it takes a while to find green leaves hidden under a thick blanket of delicate moth-like flowers whose striking blue shades and tones are just unbelievable, to say the least. Who wants more excitement can easily get it through growing this lovely jewel plant in their garden. Satisfaction guaranteed!
Lobelia erinus or edging lobelia emigrated from the Cape Province area more than 200 years ago, along with other species such as geraniums or irises, and has become a must in every garden like it were a native. It is hard to believe that XVII century gardeners could do without these tiny flowers, and - what is even more surprising - without their blue colours. We are fortunate enough to have that hopeless period behind us and now we can wildly enjoy new cultivars of lobelia with flowers not only blue but also white, pink and carmine. However, that new colours find it really hard to to take off as a lot of people prefer to deal with all kinds of blue tones rather than white of reddish purple ones. Why is that, I do not know but I feel the same unjust way. There must be something to blue flowers that any effort to change their pigmentation meets with some sort of reserve, whereas such inhibition does not exist the other way around, e.g. flower breeders have been working hard to create a blue rose since time immemorial and they still have a lot of work ahead of them.
New cultivars of lobelia represent all heavenly blues, they also include unusual types of flowers with white "eyes". In fact those are white or yellowish throats of the flowers but they definitely more observe than swallow. No matter the cultivar, the seeds are easily available at good garden centres and should be one of our early spring shopping priorities. The fine seeds do not require covering, all you need is to sprinkle them (in late February or early March) on top of finely prepared sowing compost. However, they require light and humidity, and patience. Seedlings are very delicate and after their first true leaf emerges, they must be transplanted into separate small containers filed with good garden mixture. Do not try to pick individual seedlings, even monks would not like to do the task, rather, take out a group of several little green creatures and place them together in a new place. They will soon develop nice compact plants which are going to be permanently transplanted into the garden in late spring when the danger of late spring frost spells is gone.
Lobelia thrives in full sun, likes sheltered sites (especially the trailing cultivars, which look great in hanging baskets), is grateful for occasional complex feeding (but do not overdo with nitrogen as it delays flowering) and regular watering. It is a great company for other gaudy annuals and perennials as its blue flowers vividly juxtapose with other colours of the rainbow, including the blue ones. And the blueless white and carmine lobelias might find their way among the colourful mixture too, pretending not to be lobelias at all. I am sorry.
New cultivars of lobelia represent all heavenly blues, they also include unusual types of flowers with white "eyes". In fact those are white or yellowish throats of the flowers but they definitely more observe than swallow. No matter the cultivar, the seeds are easily available at good garden centres and should be one of our early spring shopping priorities. The fine seeds do not require covering, all you need is to sprinkle them (in late February or early March) on top of finely prepared sowing compost. However, they require light and humidity, and patience. Seedlings are very delicate and after their first true leaf emerges, they must be transplanted into separate small containers filed with good garden mixture. Do not try to pick individual seedlings, even monks would not like to do the task, rather, take out a group of several little green creatures and place them together in a new place. They will soon develop nice compact plants which are going to be permanently transplanted into the garden in late spring when the danger of late spring frost spells is gone.
Lobelia thrives in full sun, likes sheltered sites (especially the trailing cultivars, which look great in hanging baskets), is grateful for occasional complex feeding (but do not overdo with nitrogen as it delays flowering) and regular watering. It is a great company for other gaudy annuals and perennials as its blue flowers vividly juxtapose with other colours of the rainbow, including the blue ones. And the blueless white and carmine lobelias might find their way among the colourful mixture too, pretending not to be lobelias at all. I am sorry.
Jarek
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