Summary ⁷

Lobelia siphilitica, the great blue lobelia, great lobelia, or blue cardinalflower, is a herbaceous, perennial dicot native to eastern and central Canada and United States. Growing up to three feet tall, it lives in zones 4 to 9 in moist to wet soils. It produces a spike of zygomorphic flowers in the late summer.

Description ⁸

Height:
1 to 3 feet

Leaves:
Alternate with irregular teeth, up to 6 inches long

Flower:
Blue, irregularly-shaped flowers are alternately attached along stem, forming a spike up to 1 foot long

Bloom time:
July-October

Habitat:
Part shade to sun. Common plant of lakeshores, streambanks, wet meadows, wetland margins, moist wood margins, and ditches.

Wildlife Benefits:
Attractive to bumblebees, hummingbirds, songbirds, and deer.

References:
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/blue-lobelia

Growing Great Blue Lobelia ⁹

Great blue lobelia's late summer bloom brings a pop of color to woodland gardens. While it prefers part shade, it will tolerate full sun if the soil is kept moist. Give this plant plenty of room to grow, as it does not like to be crowded.

References:
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/blue-lobelia

Distribution and Habitat ⁹

Part shade to sun. Common plant of lakeshores, streambanks, wet meadows, wetland margins, moist wood margins, and ditches.

References:
https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/flower/blue-lobelia

Read More ¹⁰

• http://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=278860
• https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=LOSI
• https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/gb_lobeliax.htm

Sources and Credits

1. (c) poisonivee818, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
2. (c) Andrew C, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Great_Blue_Lobelia_(Lobelia_siphilitica)_(20935919226).jpg
3. (c) Joshua Mayer, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Great_Blue_Lobelia_(Lobelia_siphilitica)_-_Flickr_-_wackybadger.jpg
4. (c) Peter Gorman, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://www.flickr.com/photos/52421717@N00/2858066122
5. (c) cjosefson, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by cjosefson
6. (c) Liv MW, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://picasaweb.google.com/110547262504887375373/6346874778142864321#6347002028293795090
7. Adapted by Murfreesboro,TN, Natural Resource Division from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobelia_siphilitica
8. Adapted by Murfreesboro,TN, Natural Resource Division from a work by (c) Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/1425342
9. Adapted by Murfreesboro,TN, Natural Resource Division from a work by (c) evankrev, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), https://www.inaturalist.org/guide_taxa/1384975
10. (c) Murfreesboro,TN, Natural Resource Division, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• eFloras.org
• Flora of North America (beta)
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• Go Botany
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• IPNI (with links to POWO, WFO, and BHL)
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• SEINet Symbiota portals
• Tropicos
• USDA PLANTS database
• VASCAN by Canadensys
• World Flora Online

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