Pale Spiked Lobelia
Lobelia spicata - Starter Plug
IMPORTANT PICKUP INFORMATION
THIS ITEM IS ONLY AVAILABLE FOR PICKUP ON APRIL 25, 2026 FROM 9:30 AM TO 12:30PM AT GREENVALE VINEYARDS, PORTSMOUTH, RHODE ISLAND.
There is no delivery option for your seedling pre-order. You must pick up your plant yourself on the seedling sale date. Any seedlings not picked up will be considered a donation to ERICD's educational farm program.
What You'll Receive:
One (1) Pale Spiked Lobelia starter plug - a young, healthy plant with an established root system, ready to add delicate beauty and attract small pollinators to drier garden spots.
The delicate beauty of the lobelia family! Pale Spiked Lobelia produces slender spikes of small, pale-blue to white flowers that create an airy, graceful effect in the garden. This somewhat diminutive native is the most drought-tolerant of the lobelias, adapting to drier conditions far better than its showier cousins. The tubular flowers attract hummingbirds and small pollinators like mason bees and sweat bees. A film on the stems makes it unpalatable to deer and rabbits—a bonus for gardeners facing browsing pressure!
Outstanding Features:
Drought Tolerant Lobelia: Tolerates drier conditions once established—perfect for average garden beds.
Delicate Pollinator Plant: Attracts petite pollinators, including minor bees, mason bees, sweat bees, and occasionally hummingbirds with its tubular flowers.
Deer Resistant: A natural film on leaves and stems makes the plant unpalatable to deer and rabbits—grows successfully even in high-deer-pressure areas.
Adaptable: Grows in full sun to partial shade and handles a wider range of moisture conditions than other native lobelias.
Subtle Beauty: The pale blue to white flowers create a soft, naturalistic effect that complements bolder plants without competing.
Plant Specifications:
Light: Full sun to partial shade (4-8 hours)
Soil: Average, well-drained to medium-moist
Moisture: Medium-dry to medium-moist; more drought-tolerant than other lobelias
Height: 1-3 feet tall, 1-1.5 feet spread
Bloom Time: June to August (summer)
Hardiness: Zones 4-8 (excellent for New England)
Growing Tips:
Plant starter plugs 12-15 inches apart in spring or fall. Pale Spiked Lobelia is a short-lived perennial but often self-sows to maintain its presence in the garden. While it tolerates drier conditions better than other lobelias, it performs best with consistent moisture. The plant can be delicate in appearance and may benefit from support from surrounding plants. Excellent for naturalized areas, meadows, prairies, and mixed perennial borders. Thrives in Rhode Island and Massachusetts (zones 5-6) in a variety of garden settings from dry to moderately moist.