Southern Lobelia

Lobelia amoena

Southern Lobelia

Louis Claude Richard (1754-1821)

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Campanulaceae
Genus:
Lobelia
Species:
Lobelia amoena

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
4-6 ft
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
High
Bloom Months:
jul, aug, sep, oct
Bloom Colors:
Blue

Native Range

United States: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★★★★★ Based on number of butterfly and moth species using this genus as host plant (Source: National Wildlife Federation)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens), Common eastern bumble bee (Bombus impatiens)

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
moist, well-drained, sandy loam
pH:
5.5 - 6.5 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
good drainage required
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
prefers wetland or riparian zones

Germination Information

Pre-treatment: Cold-moist stratification for 30 days at 1–5°C (34–41°F).

Notes: Light required for germination; do not cover seed.

Source: OpenAI GPT-4o