great blue lobelia

Lobelia siphilitica

The great blue lobelia is a beautiful flower with bright blue petals. It grows tall and loves to bloom in late summer, making gardens look colorful and cheerful.

Habitat: Wetlands

Appearance

The great blue lobelia has striking, deep blue-purple flowers arranged in tall, dense spikes. Each blossom is tubular with two distinct lips, and its green, lance-shaped leaves are often toothed, creating a vibrant contrast.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderAsteralesFamilyCampanulaceaeGenusLobelia

great blue lobelia

Interesting facts

Its scientific name, 'siphilitica', hints at its past use in traditional medicine!

Native Americans once used this plant to help treat many different ailments.

Sometimes, hummingbirds will drink nectar from its blue flowers, not just red ones!

The tiny seeds of this lobelia are so small, a single plant can make thousands!

Special abilities

Great blue lobelia can grow in waterlogged soil because its roots are adapted to low oxygen environments, helping it survive in wetlands.

This plant has a unique flower shape that guides long-tongued bees to its nectar, ensuring efficient pollination and seed production.

Great blue lobelia produces special compounds that can deter herbivores from eating it, protecting its leaves and flowers.

Measurements & details

Height: 30-120 cm
Spread: 30-60 cm
Flower Size: 2-3 cm
Bloom Season: Late summer to fall
Edible: No
Toxicity: Moderate
Lifecycle: Perennial
Pollination Method: Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Common Eastern Bumble Bee

Bombus impatiens

drinks nectar and moves pollen

pollinates

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Papilio glaucus

sips nectar from the tubular flowers

pollinates

Monarch Butterfly

Danaus plexippus

visits flowers for a sugary treat

Traits

Flowering

Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle.

Cluster Flower

Cluster flowers are inflorescences where individual flowers are arranged closely together on a common stem.

Summer Blooming

Summer blooming plants produce their flowers during the summer season, often providing vibrant color when many other plants have finished.

Fragrant Flower

Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense.

Colorful

Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.

Pollinator Magnet

Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms.

Wetland

This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs.