D owny lobelia is a perennial herbaceous wildflower in the Bellflower family native to the eastern and south-central United States. It is the most common blue-flowered Lobelia in the Southeast. Blue Lobelia is a herbaceous perennial that may grow 3 to 4 feet tall. The leaves are alternate with small teeth that are irregularly spaced and a fuzzy underside. Blue flowers with white to pink centers first mature in late summer and continue into mid-fall. Insects, Diseases, or Other Plant Problems: Snails and slugs may damage the foliage. More information on Lobelia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
Clay; Loam (Silt); Sand
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry | Occasionally Wet
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf feel
Soft; Velvety
Leaf size
1-3 inches long
Hairs present
Yes
Leaf detail
Downy lobelia has soft, alternate leaves, each 1 to 2 inches. The leaves generally have small irregularly spaced teeth. They may be hairy, particularly on the underside.
Flower color
Blue; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Spike
Flower shape
Irregular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
The Downy lobelia features irregularly shaped, .75 in. blue flowers with a white center. The upper lip has two lobes and the lower lip has three lobes. The flower spike is often one-sided. Blooms late summer to fall, August-October.
Bloom time
Fall; Summer
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern and south central United States
Wildlife value
Its flowers are attractive to hummingbirds, butterflies and other pollinators. Bees are pollinators of this plant.