Lobelia cardinalis 'Chocolate Truffle'

Synonyms

Lobelia cardinalis 'Black Truffle'

Bogs Herbaceous Perennial

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A short-lived, clump-forming perennial to 80cm with upright, leafy stems bearing shiny, lance-shaped, bronzy-brown foliage. Produces spires of vibrant red, two-lipped, tubular flowers from mid-summer to mid-autumn

Position

Full sun, Partial shade

Soil Types

Chalk, Clay, Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity: 2–5 years
Max Spread: 0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height: 0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Chalk Clay Loam Sand

Moisture: Moist but well–drained or Poorly–drained
pH: Acid or Alkaline or Neutral

Position

Full sun Partial shade

Aspect: East–facing or South–facing or West–facing
Exposure: Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20): H3

Colour & Scent

Season	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family: Campanulaceae
Native to GB/Ireland: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eatenskin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eatenskin irritant. For further information and contact numbers regarding pets, see the HTA guide to potentially harmful plants
Genus: Lobelia can be annuals, perennials or shrubs, with simple leaves and showy 2-lipped flowers that may be solitary or in racemes or panicles
Name Status: Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in deep, fertile, reliably moist soil in full sun or partial shade. Protect with a dry winter mulch

Propagation

Propagate by division in spring, or take bud cuttings in mid-summer

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
City and courtyard gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut down faded flower spikes in autumn

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to crown rot and a virus