Lobelia siphilitica - Great Blue Lobelia

Family:	Campanulaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1
Width:	0.25
Synonyms:
Range:	Eastern N. America - Maine to S. Dakota, south to Texas and Missouri.

Lobelia siphilitica (Great Blue Lobelia) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1m and a width of 0.25m . It has a hardness rating of 5.
Great Blue Lobelia will flower in February to March. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by

Soil Information

Great Blue Lobelia will grow in light (sandy),medium (loamy),hard (clay) soil. It is not necessary for the soil to be well drained.
The soil prefers the following PH / acid levels :
- pH of less than 6, Acidic soils
- pH between 6 and 8, Neutral soils
- pH greater than 8, Basic soils
Great Blue Lobelia prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Great Blue Lobelia can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Moist woods and marshes[187].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Requires a moist soil, succeeding in full sun or partial shade[111, 187, 200]. A very ornamental plant[1], but it is short-lived unless divided frequently[233]..

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 2/5
The root is cathartic, diaphoretic and emetic[4, 46, 103]. It is used in the treatment of dropsy, diarrhoea, stomach complaints, syphilis and dysentery[4, 257]. A poultice of the root has been applied to sores that are hard to heal[257]. The leaves are analgesic and febrifuge[257]. An infusion has been used in the treatment of colds and fevers[257]. A poultice of the crushed leaves has been applied to the head to relieve the pain of headaches[257]. At one time in N. America the root of this plant was believed to be effective in the treatment of VD[103, 222]. When used in Europe, however, it was found to be ineffective[213]. This might have been because the N. American Indians used the fresh root (which still contained the volatile oils) and also used it in conjunction with Podophyllum peltatum and Prunus virginiana, and then dusted the ulcers with the bark of Ceanothus americanus[213]. It was believed by some native North American Indian tribes that if the finely ground roots were secretly added to the food of an arguing couple then this would avert a divorce and they would love each other again[213]. A homeopathic remedy is made from the roots[4].

• Analgesic - Relieves pain.
• Cathartic - A strong laxative but less violent than a purgative.
• Diaphoretic - Induces perspiration.
• Emetic - Induces vomiting.
• Homeopathy - A plant used in homeopathic treatments.
• Poultice - A moist, usually warm or hot, mass of plant material applied to the skin in the treatment of burns etc.
• VD - Used in the treatment of venereal disease

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame[200]. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. Division in spring[200]. Basal cuttings in spring[1]. Harvest the shoots when they are about 10cm long with plenty of underground stem. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer. Layering in moist sand, it forms roots at the nodes[200].

Known Hazards

The plant is potentially poisonous[222]. It contains the alkaloid lobeline which has a similar effect upon the nervous system as nicotine[274].

Other Uses

None known

Cultivars

no recorded cultivars

References

Gray's Manual of Botany.
Fernald. M. L.
Author: Fernald. M. L.
Rating:
Publisher : A bit dated but good and concise flora of the eastern part of N. America.
Date of Publication : 1950

The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Huxley. A.
Author: Huxley. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Date of Publication : 1992

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