Lobelia (Lobelia Erinus Blue Carpet)
Easy to grow from seeds, lobelia plants are compact and free-flowering and are very useful for edging. They are also valuable for use in window-boxes, hanging baskets, mass plantings, and as a flowering ground cover. This variety of lobelia is a showy and dependable edging plant that is generally categorized as an annual.
Lobelia has a compact growth habit with leafy, branching stems covered in brilliant blue flowers with white eyes. It loves to bloom and will produce blossoms all summer until the first frost. Lobelia plants will live through the winter in mild, frost free areas to grow as a perennial ground cover plant. Lobelia prefers moist, rich soil and will continue to self-sow once it is established. It is native to southern Africa, and as such thrives in the heat of the summer.
PLANTING INFORMATION
How to Grow
If starting seeds indoors, sow 10-12 weeks before last frost is expected. These seeds are very tiny, so sow them atop prepared fine soil and press into soil without covering: light is needed for germination.
Use a well-draining soil with pH of 5.5-6.5 for these seeds. Make sure to keep soil slightly moist until germination, but not wet.
After all danger of frost has passed, these seedlings can be transplanted outdoors. Space them 6 inches apart. Once in bloom, dead flower spikes can be removed to encourage further growth.
Lobelia blue carpet is and incredibly versatile plant used in containers, hanging baskets, window boxes, borders, and ground cover. To increase germination rate, start lobelia indoors 10-12 weeks before the last spring frost. Be amazed by its quick growth and prolific blooming throughout the entire summer!
Lobelia is a perennial plant, which means it will reliably return year after year on its own, making life a bit easier for the gardener. Lobelia seeds are open pollinated, non-GMO, and untreated. The best companion plants for lobelia blue carpet are alyssum and balsam impatiens.
Even though lobelia relishes partial shade, it can tolerate full sun as long as it receives plenty of water. Unlike many plants, these beauties can withstand consistently wet soil conditions. They perform well in zones 4 through 9, require average water, and need little care once established.
