Lobelia spicata - Pale Spike

Family:	Campanulaceae
Habit:	Perennial
Height:	1
Width:	0.25
Synonyms:
Range:	Eastern N. America - New Brunswick to Minnesota.

Lobelia spicata (Pale Spike) is a Perennial which grows to a height of 1m and a width of 0.25m . It has a hardness rating of 4.
Pale Spike will flower in December to February. The flowers from this plant are hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and they are pollinated by

Soil Information

Pale Spike 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
Pale Spike prefers soils

Ideal Planting Locations

Pale Spike can grow in semi or areas with no shade.

Dry mostly sandy soils[235] in fields, meadows, glades and thickets[222].

Planting places suited to this plant described below.

• Can be planted in Cultivated Beds
• A bog garden plant

Cultivation Details

Requires a moist soil, succeeding in full sun or partial shade[111, 187, 200].

Edible Uses*

* See disclaimer
Edible Rating: 0/5
None known

Medicinal Uses*

* See disclaimer
Medicinal Rating: 1/5
A tea made from the leaves is emetic[222]. A wash made from the stalks was used to treat neck and jaw sores[222]. A tea made from the root was used in the treatment of trembling limbs - it was applied to scratches made in the limb[222].

• Emetic - Induces vomiting.
• Miscellany - Various medicinal actions that need more clarification.

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

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

An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada
Britton. N. L. Brown. A.
Author: Britton. N. L. Brown. A.
Rating:
Publisher : Reprint of a 1913 Flora, but still a very useful book.
Date of Publication : 1970

DISCLAIMER: All information published on AussieGardening.com.au is for entertainment purposes only. Readers are encouraged to confirm the information contained here with other sources. The information is not intended to replace medical advice offered by doctors or dietary advice by dieticians. AussieGardening.com.au will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary, or other damages arising therefrom.