Re: lobelia cardinalis - red lobelia

Doug, it's been my experience with L. 'Ruby Slippers'  that mulching is
guaranteed to kill the plant over the winter.  I kept the mulch well back,
and it made it through.  Didn't work with 'Tania', however, though she was
in a different area of the garden and may have been wetter.
Merri
Zone 5b, WV
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Doug Green" <flowers@simplegiftsfarm.com>
To: <perennials@hort.net>
Sent: Tuesday, August 19, 2003 3:06 PM
Subject: lobelia cardinalis - red lobelia


> > > Hi there.  I have had lobelia cardinalis for some years now, in moist
> > > soil, with not a lot of sun, and I've even moved it around seeking a
> > > better reaction, but it's not a plant that has done well for me.
>
> Isabelle - it also depends whether you're growing the species with a green
> leaf (which should grow very well in damp spots and average fertility) or
> one of the hybrids.
>
> For example, the bronze leaved variety 'Queen Victoria' is really tender
> (almost an annual) and can be knocked back quite quickly by winter. I've
> never been able to really grow it. Which is not surprising considering it
> has a usda zone 7 rating.
>
> The other green leaved varieties on the market sometimes sold as
perennials
> (often labelled generically 'red' or 'blue') also more closely resemble
> annuals in my garden than perennials.  I believe these currently known as
> Lobelia x speciosa and are considered usda zone 6 hardiness (a long way
> from my zone 4) :-)  The most often sold in this group are the
'Compliment'
> and 'Fan' series because they are readily available from seed.  Gorgeous
> but again, a little too tender for me.
>
> I know that some garden centers that grow their own perennials confuse the
> species with these x speciosa plants and sell them as "hardy". ;-)
>
> Growing one of the tender ones that manage to survive the winter but
> struggle through the growing season is not uncommon.  They usually don't
> manage to grow more than a year or two like this.
>
> Don't know if that's what's happening or not but something to consider
> until more info is provided.
>
> Doug
>
>
> Doug Green
> Author of the award winning "Gardening Wisdom"
> Free gardening newsletter at www.gardening-tips-perennials.com
>
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