11 named cultivars
‘Laguna Dark Blue’Laguna Dark Blue Lobelia
‘Starship Scarlet Bronze Leaf’Starship Scarlet Lobelia
‘Starship Rose’Starship Rose Cardinal Flower
‘Monsoon’Monsoon Lobelia
‘Dark Blue’Dark Blue Trailing Lobelia
‘Scarlet Princess’Scarlet Princess Edging Lobelia
‘Fountain White’Fountain White Lobelia
‘Fountain Rose’Edging Lobelia, Trailing Lobelia
‘Fountain Blue’Fountain Blue Lobelia
‘Laguna Cloud White’Laguna Cloud White Lobelia
‘Laguna Sky Blue’Laguna Sky Blue Lobelia
The Story
Plant Bio
Lobelia erinus is a low mounding or trailing annual native to South Africa and north to Sudan, reaching six to nine inches. Narrow serrated leaves are sometimes flushed bronze, and masses of small two-lipped flowers in intense blue, violet, pink or white smother the plant from spring into early summer, each with a pale white eye.
The blue is among the most saturated available in a bedding plant, which is why it persists in containers despite being fussy about heat. It stalls and often dies back in high summer, so treat it as a cool-season plant: shear it hard when it declines and it frequently returns for an autumn flush.
Uses & Benefits:
Essentials
At a Glance
Plant Type
Annual
Height
7 inches
Width
12 inches
Light
Full Sun, Partial Sun
Zones
10
Water
Moderate to high
Humidity
Moderate
Lifespan
Annual
Native To
South Africa north to Sudan
Toxicity
Toxic if ingested
Marketplace
Where to Buy
Shipping costs Year-round shipping Free shipping
Planting
How to Grow
- Plant out after frost in moist, well-drained soil.
- Choose full sun in cool climates, partial shade where summers are hot.
- Space six to nine inches apart.
- Keep consistently moist; it wilts quickly when dry.
- Shear back hard when flowering stalls in heat.
- Feed lightly through the growing season.
Pro Tip
Shear it to half its size the moment it looks tired in midsummer — most plants recover and flower again once nights cool.
Keep It Thriving
Care Guide
Do
- Keep the soil consistently moist 💧
- Give afternoon shade in hot climates 🌤️
- Shear back hard when it stalls ✂️
- Use it in containers and baskets 🪴
Don't
- Let it dry out; it wilts fast ❌
- Expect it to thrive through a hot summer ❌
- Let children or pets eat it ❌
Seasonal Care Calendar
| Task | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prune | ||||||||||||
| Water |
Watch Out For
Pests & Diseases
Common Pests
Common Diseases
In the Garden
Landscape Uses & Companions
Landscape Uses
Companion Plants
Multiply
Propagation Methods
Good to Know
Common Questions
Edging Lobelia questions
What zones can Edging Lobelia grow in?
Edging Lobelia is hardy in USDA Zone 10. Inside that range it survives winter in the ground; outside it, grow it as an annual or a container plant you protect.
Is Edging Lobelia deer resistant?
Yes — Edging Lobelia is rated deer-resistant. Deer typically pass it over, though extreme hunger can override any plant's defenses.
When does Edging Lobelia bloom?
Edging Lobelia typically blooms in spring to early summer through late summer. Exact timing shifts a week or two with your zone — Sow's bloom calendar maps it to your garden.
Does Edging Lobelia need full sun?
Edging Lobelia does best in full sun to part shade. In hot climates, afternoon shade keeps blooms fresher longer.
More Lobelia to compare
Cardinal Flower
Lobelia cardinalis
Lilac Candles Great Blue Lobelia
Lobelia siphilitica 'Lilac Candles'
Fan Cinnabar Rose Lobelia
Lobelia speciosa 'Fan Cinnabar Rose'
Cardinal Flower 'Black Truffle'
Lobelia cardinalis 'Black Truffle'
Hybrid Cardinal Flower
Lobelia speciosa 'Compliment Violet'
Cardinal Flower Deep Rose
Lobelia cardinalis 'Deep Rose'
Keep exploring
Explore the genus
Hardy in your zone?
Grow Edging Lobelia with confidence
See it in a design of your actual yard, get zone-matched care reminders, and track it season by season in your garden journal.