trefle.io · Taken Oct 8, 2010 by Tela Botanica − David GENOUD (cc-by-sa)
Campanulaceae
Water lobelia
Lobelia dortmanna
Also known as Lakeside lobelia, Lobelia dortmanna, Water gladiole, Lobelia dortmanna f. ramosa
Native Plants · Aquatic Plant · Water Lobelia · Pond Plant · Submerged · Bog Garden · Oligotrophic · Lobelia · Campanulaceae · Water Garden · Native Wildflower
Water lobelia is an aquatic perennial that grows submerged in shallow, cool, oligotrophic lakes and ponds with clean, acidic water. It requires very specific water quality conditions — low nutrients and high clarity — making it challenging to cultivate outside its natural habitat. Best suited for naturalistic pond plantings or bog garden environments that closely mimic its native soft-water ecosystem.
Growing conditions
The details behind the basics
- Daily light
- 6 hours
- Watering
- Keep roots permanently submerged in shallow, still, acidic water up to 12 inches deep · Continuously submerged or at water's edge
- Maintenance
- High
- Soil
- loam
- Soil pH
- 5.5–6.5
- Temperature
- -20°F to 90°F
- Cycle
- Perennial
- Propagation
- Seed, Division
Hardiness
USDA 4a-9b
Form & growth
Mature size and habit
- Mature height
- 12 in – 3 ft
- Spread
- 2 ft
- Spacing
- 12 in apart
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Root depth
- Medium
- Flowers
- No
- Foliage
- Medium
Ecology & origin
Where it belongs and what it brings
- Native to
- Baltic States, Belarus, Belgium, British Columbia, Connecticut, Denmark, Finland, France, FøRoyar, Germany, Great Britain, Ireland, Labrador, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Masachusettes, Minnesota, Netherlands, New Brunswick
- Attracts
- Bees, Butterflies
Sources: trefle, usda
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