Lobelia laxiflora (Mexican Lobelia)

Mexican lobelia, Lobelia laxiflora, is not seen often in Sonoma County gardens; nonetheless, it is a good candidate for both groomed borders and informal areas where it withstands some neglect and little water.

Creeping Perennial

Lobelia laxiflora is a sun-loving perennial with brilliant, two-lipped, orange-red, tubular flowers with a bright yellow throat that lights up garden beds in summer.

Plants need only occasional water after becoming established.
With excessive water, this lobelia spreads quickly and can become invasive.
With less water, it stays in check, thrives, and blooms regardless.
Clumps slowly spread into broad colonies that may be welcome to fill open space. Underground rhizomes must be removed to limit unwanted expansion.
Red-tinted stems up to 3 ft. tall are clothed with narrow, linear leaves. Hummingbirds feed on nectar.
As multiple stems grow with age, the plant tends to assume a bushy form to 3 ft. wide.

Garden Culture

Mexican lobelia is suited to low-water gardens and often endures for years when ignored completely.

It blooms from early summer to frost, most heavily when given periodic irrigation in the hottest microclimates. In partial shade, less water is needed.
Deciduous in winter, growth renews the following spring.
Planted in full sun, it needs the same care as similar blooming Zauschneria californica (syn. Epilobium—California fuchsia). Both adapt to nearly any well-drained soil.
These two species are completely unrelated but both are drought-tolerant perennials with tubular blossoms. This lobelia tends to be more upright than zauschneria with its more lax and arching stems.

Related Lobelia Species

Gardeners may be more familiar with a popular annual Lobelia or a different perennial species.

Annual Lobelia erinus with blue or purple blossoms is frequently used as a trailing interest in hanging baskets, containers, or as an edging along garden beds.
- It overwinters only in very warm microclimates where temperatures stay well above freezing.
- This species may appear to be a perennial due to its tendency to survive mild winters and to self-sow readily.
The water-loving Lobelia cardinalis may come to mind with its rich green foliage and striking dark red, tubular flowers attractive to hummingbirds.
- This cardinal flower likes some shade and loves water; it thrives only in constantly moist soil.
- It can be planted it in a pot and placed in a bog or water garden.

August 2023