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Lobelia siphilitica 'Alba' (Blue cardinal flower 'Alba')
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1 hour care
per year
per year
0.75m
Max height
Max height
0.4m
Max spread
Max spread
2-5 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Lobelia siphilitica 'Alba'
Other names
Blue cardinal flower 'Alba', White cardinal flower, Great white lobelia, Tall white lobelia, Virginia bellflower 'Alba', Vomit root 'Alba'
Genus
Lobelia Lobelia
Variety or Cultivar
'Alba' _ 'Alba' is an upright, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with erect stems bearing ovate to broadly lance-shaped, toothed, softly hairy, mid- to light green leaves and dense racemes of tubular, two-lipped, white flowers from late summer to mid-autumn.
Lobelia siphilitica 'Alba' is: Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming, Upright
Toxicity
Severe discomfort may result if ingested
Flower
White in Summer; White in Autumn
Foliage
Light green in Spring
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Slugs Slugs
Diseases
May be prone to a virus
Crown rot Crown rot
General care
Pruning
Cut back after flowering.
Propagation
Seed cam be sown as early as late winter.
Propagation methods
Division, Seed
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Where to grow
Lobelia siphilitica 'Alba' (Blue cardinal flower 'Alba') will reach a height of 0.75m and a spread of 0.4m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, City, Coastal, Cottage/Informal
Cultivation
Plant in deep, fertile, reliably moist soil in sun or partial shade. Best in partial shade except in cool, northern climates. May self-seed in optimum growing conditions.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Lobelia siphilitica 'Alba'
Other names
Blue cardinal flower 'Alba', White cardinal flower, Great white lobelia, Tall white lobelia, Virginia bellflower 'Alba', Vomit root 'Alba'
Genus
Lobelia Lobelia
Variety or Cultivar
'Alba' _ 'Alba' is an upright, clump-forming, herbaceous perennial with erect stems bearing ovate to broadly lance-shaped, toothed, softly hairy, mid- to light green leaves and dense racemes of tubular, two-lipped, white flowers from late summer to mid-autumn.
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming, Upright
Toxicity
Severe discomfort may result if ingested
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Colour
Flower
White in Summer; White in Autumn
Foliage
Light green in Spring
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Diseases
May be prone to a virus
Specific diseases
General care
Pruning
Cut back after flowering.
Propagation
Seed cam be sown as early as late winter.
Propagation methods
Division, Seed
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Lobelia siphilitica 'Alba' (Blue cardinal flower 'Alba') will reach a height of 0.75m and a spread of 0.4m after 2-5 years.
Suggested uses
Beds and borders, City, Coastal, Cottage/Informal
Cultivation
Plant in deep, fertile, reliably moist soil in sun or partial shade. Best in partial shade except in cool, northern climates. May self-seed in optimum growing conditions.
Soil type
Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types)
Soil drainage
Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive
Soil pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Light
Partial Shade, Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Exposed, Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4)
USDA zones
Zone 9, Zone 8, Zone 7, Zone 6, Zone 5, Zone 4
In order to add a note on this plant, please add this plant to your plant lists.
| This plant likes... | Garden match | |
| Soil types: | Chalky, Clay, Loamy, Sandy (will tolerate most soil types) | Tell us... |
| Soil drainage: | Moist but well-drained, Moisture-retentive | Tell us... |
| Soil pH: | Acid, Alkaline, Neutral | Tell us... |
| Light: | Partial Shade, Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Exposed, Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4) | Tell us... |
ARTICLES WITH THIS PLANT
Designed by Peter Chmiel, director at Grant Associates, and Chin-Jung Chen, senior associate at the practice, the pair's Chinese-inspired 'The Guangzhou Garden' pays homage to Guangzhou’s… read more
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