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Lobelia erinus

Edging Lobelia · Garden Lobelia · Trailing Lobelia

Family CampanulaceaeGenus Lobelia

A blue-violet flower with two narrow upper lobes and three broad lower ones, its throat white and yellow.
FlowerAndré Karwath aka AkaCC BY-SA 2.5

About the plant

What it is and where it grows — not part of any germination protocol.

The plant

Habit
Annual, Herbaceous PerennialExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Habit
annual or subshrubPlants of the World Online
Height
6-9 in15-25 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Spread
0.5-1 ft15-30 cmExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Flower
Blue, Pink, Purple/Lavender, WhiteExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Blooms
SpringExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Native range
Angola, Botswana, Cape Provinces, Caprivi Strip, Chad, DR Congo and elsewhereGBIF Backbone Taxonomy
Hardiness zones
10-11Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Growing conditions

Sun
Full sun; Partial ShadeExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil
Clay, High Organic Matter, Loam (Silt), SandExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0), Alkaline (>8.0), Neutral (6.0-8.0)Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox
Moisture
Good Drainage, MoistExtension Gardener Plant Toolbox

Toxicity is noted only where a source states it. No note here is not a finding of safety.

Sources: Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — NC State Extension; Plants of the World Online — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Global Biodiversity Information Facility.

Worth knowing

  • A popular edging plant from southern Africa, often in hanging baskets. In temperate gardens it is a half-hardy annual, sown under glass with some heat in spring. Wikipedia: Lobelia erinus

Protocol

DerivedN. C. Deno, 1996

Difficulty Low Rated by us, not by the source.

  1. Dry storage

    Duration: 180 daysTemperature: 70°F 21°C

  2. Sow and cover

    Temperature: 70°F 21°C Light: dark

about 6 months from start to sowing. Then 15 days to germinate.

100% germination in 6–15 days.

Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement — N. C. Deno, 1996 · 1st Supplement, Lobelia p. 54Public domain
Show the original text
Lobelia (Lobeliaceae). L. pendula germ. 100% in 3-5 d in either 70D or 70L. Germination was slightly inhibited by GA-3. Seeds DS 6 m germ. 70D(100% in 6-15 d) which shows some slowing of the rate of germination.
Seed Germination Theory and Practice, 1st Supplement, 1st Supplement, Lobelia p. 54. Quoted exactly. Every value on this card comes from this record, except the difficulty rating, which is ours; the step names come from a fixed list.

How each step is done, in Deno’s words, and what Verified and Derived mean.

Germination trials

Readers’ own records of sowing this species, published after review. Share your trial · All trials

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