About Trailing Sapphire Lobelia

History

• Trailing lobelia is one of more than 360 global Lobelia species, and one of 69 lobelias native to South Africa's foothills and sandy coastal plains. Trailing sapphire lobelia belongs to the Regatta series of hybrid lobelias from the Pan American Seed Co. Introduced in October 1996 as Regatta Sapphire Blue, it shares the extended blooming season of all the Regatta series plants. Each flowers up to a month earlier than other Lobelia erinus strains. This trait, with its uniform ornamental characteristics, earned sapphire blue lobelia Approved Novelty status from the ornamental plants industry’s Fleuroselect.

Ornamental Characteristics

• Sapphire blue lobelia forms a 6- to 8-inch high mound before spreading. Each of its trailing stems reaches 12 to 18 inches long. A plant in full flower creates billowing masses of blue-violet. Paired with lavender, softer blues, white or cool pink, it has a soothing effect. A window box of spoon-petaled, purple Cannington John African daisies, feathery lavender-blue ageratum and cascades of sapphire blue lobelia alternating with Aurea creeping jenny is sure to turn heads. Planted with Fanfare yellow petunia and Mini Famous Orange calibrochoa, the lobelia creates a sunset-fading-to-night effect.

Growing Sapphire Lobelia

• Sapphire lobelia can be grown indoors from seed planted eight to 10 weeks before your area's average final spring frost date. Press it lightly into the top of the seed starter, but don't cover it with the medium. Sprinkle it gently with warm water often enough to keep the medium moderately moist. Maintain the pots or flats at 70 degrees Fahrenheit until the seedlings emerge. They typically germinate in two to three weeks and can go in the garden after the last frost.

Growing Conditons

• Sapphire lobelia performs best in moist, rich soil and partial to full sun. Where summers are hot, it benefits from partial shade. Biweekly fertilizing keeps the plant vigorous. Shearing the lobelia in summer if its flowers decrease encourages autumn bloom.

Consideration

• All parts of all lobelias contain alkaloid lobeline and other potentially fatal toxins. Consuming a lobelia amount equal to 0.5 percent of body weight causes symptoms within 72 hours. Animals develop oral ulcers, diarrhea, loss of appetite, sluggishness and coma. People ingesting the plant experience vomiting, sweating, falling body temperature, fainting and coma.