How to Use Lobelia in Spring Container Arrangements

It is never to early to get started designing your spring outdoor container arrangements. You can ward off the cold by dreaming of your brightly colored containers that will emerge when the sun returns.

As you plan your containers, a little research will help you find the best plants for the location of your containers. Lobelia is a beautiful, prolific plant that thrives in cooler weather. Consider using one of the many varieties in your containers this spring.

Growth Habit

Electric blue lobelia pairs attractively with shade love impatiens.

Lobelia has several habits, it can form low, lush mounds or it can spill and trail. The foliage typically consists very fine, spear shaped leaves. This plant has a delicate, almost lacy look. The flowers can be found in white, light blue, brilliant blue, and purple. Lobelia is one of the few plants that offers a truly blue flower. The flowers are small, but dense. Lobelia is a prolific bloomer in the spring and will often offer a second round of blooms in the fall. In cooler climates lobelia will bloom for the entire summer.

Because lobelia is an early bloomer, set it out as soon as any threat of frost is passed. Lobelia can handle full sun, but if your temperatures soar during the summer you will want to provide the plants with shade.

Care Needs

Place your lobelia in a container with a well-draining potting medium. Lobelia likes plenty of moisture, especially when it is hot. Be careful not to keep it too soggy, though. Remember that ceramic containers dry out faster than plastic containers, so be sure to water appropriately.

Once lobelia has bloomed you can pinch it back. Cutting it back by half once it has flowered will help the plant remain full and bushy and may induce more flowering in the fall.

Container Design

Lobelia trails beautifully from a hanging basket.

The shape of lobelia makes it an excellent container plant. Depending on the variety it can make a mounding border, or it can spill and trail over the edges. The trailing varieties are especially ideal for window boxes and hanging baskets.

Pair lobelia with with other cool weather plants for a full container during the spring. The electric blue of some lobelia varieties will complement pansies, violas, white snapdragons, alyssum or dusty miller. Lobelia can also create beautiful, full, mounding containers when planted on their own.

If you want a container that will last the entire season, pair it with flowers that will last all summer or stagger the blooming plants. White Petunias, or impatiens will work well and bloom all summer long. Coleus will make an attractive shade loving foliage companion for lobelia.

Tips to Keep in Mind

Remember as you design your container arrangement to include elements for height, mounding fillers, and trailing spillers. Vary color and texture to maintain an eye catching arrangement. Use bright blue lobelia for unique and brilliant color. Depending on the variety it will be the perfect trailing or mounding plant. Just keep in mind that it will not bloom during the hottest parts of the summer. What are your favorite spring annual combinations?