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Lobelia tupa (Devil's tobacco)
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2 hours care
per year
per year
2m
Max height
Max height
0.9m
Max spread
Max spread
1-2 years
To maturity
To maturity
Low
Toxicity
Toxicity
Plant details
Botanical name
Lobelia tupa
Other names
Devil's tobacco, Tupa
Genus
Lobelia Lobelia
Species
L. tupa - L. tupa is a robust, hardy to half-hardy, upright, clump-forming perennial with purple-red stems, lance-shaped, downy, grey-green leaves and racemes of narrow, tubular, lipped, red to orange-red flowers from midsummer to mid-autumn.
Lobelia tupa is: Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming, Upright
Toxicity
All parts are poisonous if ingested. Contact may cause skin irritation.
Flower
Red, Orange-red in Summer; Red, Orange-red in Autumn
Foliage
Grey-green in Spring; Grey-green in Summer; Grey-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Slugs Slugs
Crown rot Crown rot
General care
Pruning
Cut down faded flower spikes in autumn.
Propagation methods
Division, Seed
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Where to grow
Lobelia tupa (Devil's tobacco) will reach a height of 2m and a spread of 0.9m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
City, Cottage/Informal, Beds and borders, Containers
Cultivation
Plant in deep, fertile, reliably moist soil in full sun. Protect with a dry winter mulch.
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
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4), Tender in frost (H3)
Companion plants
We do not currently have companion plants added for this plant.
Botanical name
Lobelia tupa
Other names
Devil's tobacco, Tupa
Genus
Lobelia Lobelia
Species
L. tupa - L. tupa is a robust, hardy to half-hardy, upright, clump-forming perennial with purple-red stems, lance-shaped, downy, grey-green leaves and racemes of narrow, tubular, lipped, red to orange-red flowers from midsummer to mid-autumn.
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Clump-forming, Upright
Toxicity
All parts are poisonous if ingested. Contact may cause skin irritation.
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Colour
Flower
Red, Orange-red in Summer; Red, Orange-red in Autumn
Foliage
Grey-green in Spring; Grey-green in Summer; Grey-green in Autumn
How to care
Watch out for
Specific pests
Specific diseases
General care
Pruning
Cut down faded flower spikes in autumn.
Propagation methods
Division, Seed
Monthly care advice
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Where to grow
Lobelia tupa (Devil's tobacco) will reach a height of 2m and a spread of 0.9m after 1-2 years.
Suggested uses
City, Cottage/Informal, Beds and borders, Containers
Cultivation
Plant in deep, fertile, reliably moist soil in full sun. Protect with a dry winter mulch.
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
Full Sun
Aspect
South, East, West
Exposure
Sheltered
UK hardiness Note: We are working to update our ratings. Thanks for your patience.
Hardy (H4), Tender in frost (H3)
USDA zones
Zone 10, Zone 9, Zone 8
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| 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: | Full Sun | Tell us... |
| Aspect: | South, East, West | Tell us... |
| Exposure: | Sheltered | Tell us... |
| Hardiness: | Hardy (H4), Tender in frost (H3) | Tell us... |
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Lobelia tupa
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