Lobelia: A Native Perennial Worth Considering for Your Garden
If you’re looking to add some native charm to your garden, you might want to get acquainted with Lobelia ×speciosa var. speciosa. While this particular variety of lobelia might not be the most famous member of its family, it brings the authentic appeal of a true American native to your landscape.
What Makes This Lobelia Special?
Lobelia ×speciosa var. speciosa is a perennial forb, which is just a fancy way of saying it’s an herbaceous plant that comes back year after year without developing woody stems. Think of it as nature’s way of creating a low-maintenance garden friend that doesn’t require the commitment of a shrub but offers more staying power than an annual.
As a native species to the lower 48 states, this lobelia has earned its place in the American landscape through centuries of natural selection. It’s perfectly adapted to thrive in our local conditions, making it a smart choice for gardeners who want to work with nature rather than against it.
Where You’ll Find It Growing Wild
This particular lobelia variety has a somewhat limited natural range, calling Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri home. If you live in or near these states, you’re looking at a plant that’s truly local to your region—a genuine hometown hero of the plant world.
The Honest Truth About Growing This Lobelia
Here’s where we need to have a frank conversation: Lobelia ×speciosa var. speciosa is something of a mystery plant in the gardening world. While we know it’s a native perennial forb with a modest geographic range, specific details about its growing conditions, appearance, and care requirements are surprisingly scarce.
This doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a difficult plant to grow—it might just mean it’s been overlooked by the gardening mainstream. Sometimes the best plants are the ones that haven’t been overhyped yet!
What We Do Know
Based on its classification and native status, here’s what we can reasonably expect from this lobelia:
- It’s a perennial, so it should return each growing season
- As a forb, it won’t develop woody stems and will likely die back to the ground in winter
- Being native to the Midwest, it’s probably adapted to that region’s climate patterns
- Like most native plants, it’s likely to be relatively low-maintenance once established
Should You Plant It?
If you live in or near Illinois, Indiana, or Missouri, and you’re passionate about growing truly local native plants, this lobelia could be an interesting addition to your garden. However, the limited available information means you’d be something of a gardening pioneer.
For most gardeners, you might want to consider other well-documented native lobelia species that offer similar benefits with more reliable growing information. Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) and great blue lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) are two spectacular native alternatives with proven track records in gardens.
The Bottom Line
Lobelia ×speciosa var. speciosa represents the kind of native plant that deserves more attention, but unfortunately, there’s not enough readily available information to give you the complete growing guide you’d probably like. If you’re an adventurous gardener in its native range, it might be worth seeking out from native plant societies or specialty growers. Just be prepared to learn through experience rather than relying on detailed care instructions.
Sometimes the most rewarding gardening experiences come from getting to know these lesser-known natives. Who knows? You might just become the expert on this particular lobelia variety.
