Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)
The Great Blue Lobelia is a native, perennial wildflower that grows to a height of two to four feet. Its flowers are bright blue and have a tubular shape with two lips. The upper lip has two lobes, and the lower lip has three lobes. The flowers have stripes on the tube portion that guide pollinators to the nectar and pollen. Its alternate leaves are lance shaped and have a finely toothed margin. The great blue lobelia is found in a variety of habitats, such as wet meadows, woodlands, bog gardens, ponds, and streams. It prefers rich, humus, and moist soils that do not dry out.
Great blue lobelia offers a suite of ecological benefits that make it a valuable addition to restoration landscapes, rain gardens, and woodland edges. Blooming from midsummer into fall, its vivid blue, tubular flowers provide essential nectar for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds, supporting pollinator diversity during a seasonal lull. Its nectar is especially sought after by monarch and eastern swallowtail butterflies. It is also a host plant for the lobelia dagger moth. Its fibrous roots help stabilize soil and reduce erosion in wet areas, while also filtering runoff and improving water quality. Adaptable to moist or seasonally dry soils, it thrives in low-maintenance plantings and pairs well with other native species like cardinal flower and swamp milkweed. (SF)