Downy Lobelia Lobelia puberula
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- loh-BEE-lee-a pyu-BER-yuh-luh
- This plant has low severity poison characteristics.
- See below
- Description
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Downy lobelia is a perennial herbaceous wildflower in the Bellflower family native to the eastern and south-central United States. It is the most common blue-flowered Lobelia in the Southeast.
Blue Lobelia is a herbaceous perennial that may grow 3 to 4 feet tall. The leaves are alternate with small teeth that are irregularly spaced and a fuzzy underside. Blue flowers with white to pink centers first mature in late summer and continue into mid-fall.
The blooms have one white mark (vs. two on Great Blue Lobelia), and the flowers seem to be on one side.
Fire Risk: This plant has a medium flammability rating.
Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Snails and slugs may damage the foliage.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Lobelia
- Species:
- puberula
- Family:
- Campanulaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and south central United States
- Fire Risk Rating:
- medium flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Its flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. Bees are pollinators of this plant.
- Play Value:
- Wildlife Food Source
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- This plant is frequently damaged by deer.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Poisonous
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Occasionally Wet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Spike
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The Downy lobelia features irregularly shaped, .75 in. blue flowers with a white center. The upper lip has two lobes and the lower lip has three lobes. The flower spike is often one-sided. Blooms late summer to fall, August-October.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Soft
- Velvety
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 1-3 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Downy lobelia has soft, alternate leaves, each 1 to 2 inches. The leaves generally have small irregularly spaced teeth. They may be hairy, particularly on the underside.
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Stem:
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Hummingbirds
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Wet Soil
- Problems:
- Poisonous to Humans
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Poisonous to Humans:
- Poison Severity:
- Low
- Poison Symptoms:
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, salivation, exhaustion and weakness, dilation of pupils, convulsions, and coma
- Poison Toxic Principle:
- Alkaloids lobelamine, lobeline, and others, plus a volatile oil
- Causes Contact Dermatitis:
- No
- Poison Part:
- Flowers
- Fruits
- Leaves
- Roots
- Sap/Juice
- Seeds
- Stems
