Meet Lobelia
siphilitica – Great Blue Lobelia – a member of the bellflower family. Also called great lobelia or blue cardinal flower.
Characterized by bright, dark blue flowers
that appear in late summer and early fall - lobelia often grows in colonies
located in wet prairies, openings in forest bottomland, soggy meadows, marshes,
edges of ponds, creeks, swamps or wet pastures.
A couple of years ago we stumbled-upon this patch growing on the north edge of our backyard rain
garden. We didn’t plant it so Jill
suggested that it found its way here by means of duck feet. Plenty of wet clay soil here – perfect.
The nectar and pollen of the flowers
attract bumblebees, ruby-throated hummingbirds and large butterflies. Deer avoid it as a consequence of the foliage
containing toxic alkaloids that can cause a reaction similar to nicotine
poisoning.
It is a stunning wildflower. Bonus too!
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