Downy Lobelia

Lobelia puberula

Native to:
United States

📍 View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Division:
Magnoliophyta | - Flowering plants
Family:
Campanulaceae
Genus:
Lobelia
Species:
Lobelia puberula
USDA Symbol:
LOPU

Growth Characteristics

Life Cycle:
Perennial
Growth Habit:
Forb/herb
Height:
120 cm
Light Requirements:
Full Sun
Drought Tolerance:
Low
Bloom Months:
aug,sep,oct,nov
Bloom Colors:
blue, violet

Wildlife Benefits

Bees:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented bee visitation (GBIF)
Butterflies & Moths:
★☆☆☆☆ Documented Lepidoptera association (GBIF)

Keystone Species Ranking

Caterpillar Keystone:
★☆☆☆☆ Butterfly & moth species supported by this genus (NWF)

Reported Fauna Sightings

Bees: American bumble (Bombus pensylvanicus), Common eastern (Bombus impatiens) Butterflies:Clouded Skipper (Lerema accius)

Garden & Ecology Notes

Wildlife Value:
bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Deer Resistant:
Yes
Fire Ecology:
Fire adapted — tolerates or benefits from fire
Fire Notes:
Resprouts from basal rosettes following fire; benefits from periodic burning in pine savanna habitats.

Soil Requirements

Soil Type:
rich, moist, well-drained loamy soil
pH:
5.5 - 7.0 (slightly acidic to neutral)
Drainage:
tolerates poor drainage
Moisture:
consistently moist
Notes:
often found in wet meadows and stream banks

Propagation & Germination

Stratification:
Cold/moist stratification required — 60–90 days
Germination Time:
14–30 days
Notes:
Seeds require light for germination; surface sow and do not cover.

The above propagation data sourced from Claude AI

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

Notes: Seeds require light for germination; do not cover.

Source: Claude AI