How to grow...Lobelia

Easy-going and easy-growing, you’d be amazed how dynamic lobelia can be in borders and baskets. Anne explains how to best cultivate this carefree summertime bloomer

- Anne

There are around 370 species of lobelia, belonging to the bellflower family Campanulaceae, including showy garden-worthy annuals and perennials. Bedding-type lobelias are an easy-going bunch if well fed and watered, but I have not had much success with perennials.

Like most gardeners, I appreciate plants which, once introduced, look after themselves from year to year with little input. Chosen to suit the soil and climate of our garden, the likes of penstemons, asters, veronicastrums, phlox and kniphofia shrug off wet, cold, slugs and even the encroachment of weeds to surprise us anew with fresh foliage and flowers every year. The perennial lobelias we’ve tried, sadly, resented all of the above, and after a year or two they curled up their toes.