Cala Blue

Class

Dicotyledons

Division

Angiospermae

Family

Campanulaceae

Order

Asterales

Genus

Lobelia

Species

speciosa

Description

A herbaceous plant with an erect habit and compact growth, appreciated by gardeners and green enthusiasts at all levels of experience as a widely versatile ornamental plant and used, in homogeneous monochromatic groups or in compositions with other species, to add an accent of colour to green spaces such as flowerbeds, borders or terraces and balconies in planters and tubs. The luxuriant flowering is shown during the spring-summer period with flowers in bright and intense shades. It requires a low level of management effort and shows medium hardiness, performing best in cool soils without waterlogging.

Variety description

Very floriferous plant suitable for arrangements on balcony trays. It has a very showy and conspicuous flowering, it is a compact plant. This cultivar has a very intense blue flower colour.

Curiosities and special features

The generic term, Lobelia, was given by the Swedish botanist Carl Linneaus in the 1700s in honour of Matthias de L'Obel, botanist and physician to King James I of England in the 1500s, who is also remembered for having described the difference between monocotyledons and dicotyledons; the specific epithet speciosa, on the other hand, means showy, elegant.

Origin and distribution

Belonging to the Campanulaceae family, which includes other ornamentals such as Campanula portenschlagiana or Platycodon, the genus Lobelia brings together more than 400 herbaceous or shrub-like species, annuals and perennials, some native to the tropical or warm temperate regions of Mexico and South Africa where they were also used by the local populations in folk medicine, while others extend their range into the cool temperate zones. Lobelia x speciosa is a hybrid obtained from different species of the genus Lobelia, in particular L. fulgens, L. cardinalis and L. siphilitica, which is now widespread throughout Europe as an ornamental plant in an assortment of varieties with lush blooms of different intense colours.

Flower size

The flower is small, giving a final effect of refined lightness within a bloom that is abundant and lush.

Leaf

The leaves have a linear lamina.

Flowering period

Flowering will give a vivid and bright colour accent to your green spaces from mid-spring to late summer for a duration of 120 to 160 days.

Leaf colour

Solid colour.

Plant height

The height of the plant varies from 0.15 to 0.2 m, making it ideal as a top-level plant in mixed compositions with other ornamentals.

Lifespan

Annual crop cycle plant.

Where to plant

Due to its compact growth, small size and dense spring-summer blooms, it is considered a highly versatile ornamental plant that can be used to add an accent of colour in flower beds, planters, outdoor tubs

Stem

Herbaceous stem, the variety has no thorns.

Flower

The flower is small and simple in shape, with single-coloured petals. It flowers from mid-spring to late summer, with a flowering period of between 120 and 160 days. It is not particularly attractive to pollinating insects.

Growth

It shows compact growth, ideal for creating homogeneous monochromatic masses or for compositions with other ornamentals.

Plant habit

It has an erect habit that gives it a primary role as an attractive focal point in flowerbeds or planters.

Branching

The abundant branching outlines a high decorative value with a balanced ratio between foliage and inflorescences.

PH

The optimal soil pH for lobelia speciosa is sub-acidic, with suitable values between 6.0 and 6.5.

Soil preparation

Before spring planting in the garden, carry out light digging removing any weeds and bulky stones. Add professional quality substrate on the surface to an average height of 5/10 cm and carefully level out by preparing the planting holes to a suitable density.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Sun exposure

Exposure to full sun will encourage lush flowering.

Ideal climate and temperature

The ideal temperature is between 16 and 20 °C; it tolerates heat but prefers cool summer climates to best express the brilliance of its blooms. The biological temperature is between 10 and 30 °C.

Use

Due to its showy and scenic blooms, it is considered an ideal plant in
Outdoor ornamental

Hardiness

A variety of medium hardiness, it performs very well in flowerbeds or planters by ensuring appropriate soil and climatic conditions and absence of waterlogging.

Soil

For gardens and flowerbeds, it offers the best growth results in a peaty, slightly acidic, light and well-drained soil as it does not tolerate water stagnation; for use in pots or planters, it is advisable to place clay pellets on the bottom to improve drainage and then add a substrate for spring plants based on peat and perlite.

Difficulty

A plant of easy cultivation and crop management, appreciated for the low level of management required.

Growing tips

For abundant flowering and lush vegetative growth, we recommend

Balanced fertilisation Avoid over-watering Can be planted in sunny or half-shaded beds.

Combinations with other plants

Excellent combinations with Ageratum houstonianum, Bidens ferulifolium, Calibrachoa, choosing from the different varieties according to polychromatic combinations in order to achieve optically harmonious and proportionate overall results in a spontaneous-looking symbiosis.

Planting

When transplanting into beds, prepare the planting holes in advance, spacing each individual plant correctly to ensure that they express the best growth vigour, we recommend an average density of 20 plants per square metre in this regard.

Propagation

Multiplication can be by sowing.

Watering

The lobelia speciosa is a plant sensitive to waterlogging. Use rainwater, or alternatively canal or aqueduct water, either manually or via an irrigation system. When transplanting, assist the seedling to ensure it takes root properly in the new site by keeping it at a constant humidity but without over-watering. Afterwards allow the soil or substrate to dry slightly between one watering and the next, avoiding both dryness and harmful waterlogging with subsequent root rot. It is advisable not to water the aerial part of the plant from above, particularly in the afternoon or evening, so as not to damage the flowers and prevent the development of fungal diseases.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Fertilising

During the spring-summer period, following proper post-transplant settling, regularly apply a balanced fertiliser suitable for ornamental species to the soil or substrate at the foot of the plant, to be distributed in liquid form, i.e. diluted in the irrigation water, without exceeding the frequency and doses applied as Lobelia speciosa is sensitive to over-fertilisation.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Pet safety

Potentially toxic.

Edibility for humans

Non-edible ornamental Species.

Toxicity for humans

Toxic in certain quantities.

Tip

Avoid combining flowerbeds or tubs with plants that have a strong need for water. It does not like water stagnation and heavy fertilisation.