Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) - Long-Flowering Non-Native for Damp Edges & Bog Gardens (Peat-Free, Pesticide-Free)

Cool cobalt-to-sky blue flower spikes rise in late summer above fresh green foliage, bringing a strong colour lift just as many pond edges are easing off. Lobelia siphilitica isn’t aquatic, but it loves consistently moist to wet soil at the pond collar/bog garden, where its open, tubular flowers are readily used by bumblebees and other long-tongued pollinators. Expect roughly 50-90 cm in bloom with a clump-forming habit that stays tidy and upright. Best placed behind lower edgers to create layered height and a clean, natural shoreline. (This species is not UK-native - grown for colour and late nectar; keep to the rim, not submerged.)

Where it thrives

• Light: Full sun to light/partial shade (best flowering in sun)

• Moisture/Zone: Pond collar / bog in consistently moist to wet soil; keep the crown just above water level (do not submerge)

• Setting: Damp borders, meadow-style pond rims, and containers kept evenly moist

Planting & care

• Plant in peat-free bog/pond-edge compost or moisture-retentive garden soil; mulch to hold moisture

• Deadhead spent florets or shear after the first flush to tidy and encourage more bloom

• Stake only in very windy sites; otherwise naturally upright

• Divide every 2-3 years in spring to refresh clumps and share plants along the edge

Safety (important & honest):
Grown for ornament. Do not ingest. Wash hands after gardening. Keep plant material and soil out of natural watercourses; never release garden plants into the wild.

Truth-first wildlife note:
Blue Lobelia offers late nectar for bumblebees/long-tongued pollinators while its leafy clump provides gentle edge cover. Surround with UK-native, single-flowered marginals to maximise overall ecological value through the season.

Joel says…
“For a classy late-summer blue on the pond rim, this is ace - upright, bee-busy, and easy to steer. Keep it moist, trim for encore flowers, and let the natives do the rest around it.”

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are ordering perennials between the months of October and March, including aquatic plants, please be aware that this is the dormant phase for perennials, so your plants may arrive showing potentially little or no top growth at this stage, or can in some cases still have some old leaves from last year showing also. Please don't worry, as this is all quite normal. Once the weather warms up in spring, you will start to see fresh growth and activity! If you ever have any concerns at all, please just message the team on enquiries@wildyourgarden.com and we'll always do our best to help.