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Herbaceous Perennial

Lobelia × speciosa 'Sparkling Ruby'

lobelia 'Sparkling Ruby'

'Sparkling Ruby' is a tall clump forming herbaceous perennial, also grown as an annual, with ovate-oblong moderate green leaves, bearing erect terminal spikes of two-lipped tubular, ruby to dark red flowers in summer and autumn.

Synonyms

Lobelia 'Sparkling Ruby'

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Ultimate height

0.5–1 metres

Time to ultimate height

2–5 years

Ultimate spread

0.5–1 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Moist but well–drained, Poorly–drained

pH

Acid, Alkaline, Neutral

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

South–facing or East–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Exposed or 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)

Botanical details

Family: Campanulaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Clump forming
Potentially harmful: Harmful if eaten, skin irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling. Pets: Harmful if eaten, skin 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, rich moisture-retentive soil in sun or partial shade. Feed with liquid fertilizer until flowering and low nitrogen during the rest of the season.

Propagation

Propagate by division and seed. Seed can be sown in very early spring but it may not come true to type

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Coastal
Cottage and informal garden
Wildlife gardens
Flower borders and beds

Pruning

Cut back after flowering

Pests

May be susceptible to slugs

Diseases

May be susceptible to crown rot

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