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Summary

Bloom Color: Blue. Main Bloom Time: Early fall, Late summer, Mid fall. Form: Upright or erect.

Physical Characteristics

Lobelia siphilitica is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 0.3 m (1ft) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5. It is in flower from August to September. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs).
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Habitats

Bog Garden;

Edible Uses

None known

References More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Analgesic Cathartic Diaphoretic Dysentery Emetic Homeopathy Poultice VD

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].

References More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

None known

Special Uses

References More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Landscape Uses:Border, Massing, Woodland garden. 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]. Special Features:Attracts birds, North American native, Naturalizing, All or parts of this plant are poisonous, Wetlands plant, Attracts butterflies, Suitable for cut flowers.

References Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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The PFAF Bookshop

Plants For A Future have a number of books available in paperback and digital form. Book titles include Edible Plants, Edible Perennials, Edible Trees, and Woodland Gardening. Our new book to be released soon is Edible Shrubs.

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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].

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so itâ€™s worth checking.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status :

Related Plants

Latin Name	Common Name	Habit	Height	Hardiness	Growth	Soil	Shade	Moisture	Edible	Medicinal	Other
Lobelia cardinalis	Cardinal Flower	Perennial	1.0	3-9	M	LMH	SN	MWeWa	0	3
Lobelia dortmanna	Water Lobelia, Dortmann's cardinalflower	Perennial	0.3	0-0		LMH	SN	MWe	0	2
Lobelia inflata	Indian Tobacco	Annual	0.6	-		LMH	SN	M	0	3	1
Lobelia radicans		Perennial	0.2	-		LMH	SN	MWe	0	3
Lobelia sessilifolia		Perennial	0.7	4-8		LMH	SN	MWe	1	0
Lobelia spicata	Pale Spike, Palespike lobelia	Perennial	1.0	4-8		LMH	SN	MWe	0	1
Lobelia tupa	Devil's Tobacco	Perennial	2.0	7-10		LMH	SN	M	0	1

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

Lobelia siphilitica - L.