Lobelia (Lobelia × speciosa STARSHIP SCARLET)
Lobelia × speciosa STARSHIP SCARLET offers vibrant scarlet blooms from July to September, thriving in wet soils. An excellent, low-maintenance Lobelia for rain gardens.
Complete Plant Information
Overview
Lobelia × speciosa STARSHIP SCARLET is a spectacular hybrid that brings intense color to the summer garden when many other performers are fading. This Lobelia cultivar boasts stems loaded with brilliant scarlet red flowers, making it a significant contrast against its bronze-green foliage. It is highly valued for its ability to flourish in reliably moist conditions, making it indispensable for water features or rain garden designs.
This herbaceous perennial is noted for its low maintenance needs once established, provided its crucial requirement for constant moisture is met. Originating from crosses involving species like L. cardinalis, STARSHIP SCARLET offers reliable performance and excellent vertical interest in the landscape. Gardeners seeking reliable late-season color that also attracts hummingbirds will find this Lobelia variety extremely rewarding.
The STARSHIP series, including STARSHIP SCARLET, represents modern breeding efforts that enhance vigor and bloom quantity in the classic cardinal flower group. While categorized as a perennial, its lifespan can sometimes be short, leading many to treat this stunning Lobelia as a reliable summer annual for guaranteed display.
Fast Facts
- Plant Family: Campanulaceae
- Plant Type: Herbaceous perennial
- Hardiness Zones: USDA Zones 5-8
- Size at Maturity:
- Height: 1.5-2 ft
- Spread: 0.5-1 ft
- Bloom Time: July to September
- Bloom Description: Scarlet red
- Sun Exposure: Full sun to part shade
- Water Needs: Medium to wet
- Maintenance Level: Low
How to Grow
The best time to establish your Lobelia × speciosa STARSHIP SCARLET is in spring after the threat of hard frost has passed, ensuring the soil is rich and consistently moist. This plant thrives in medium to wet soils, making it perfect for bog gardens, the edges of ponds, or perennial borders where soil moisture can be guaranteed. While it tolerates full sun in cooler northern climates, afternoon shade is appreciated in hot summer regions to prevent wilting and maintain leaf quality.
Watering is the most critical element for success with this Lobelia. Soils should never be allowed to dry out, and the plant readily accepts brief periods of flooding. In colder zones, particularly those near the lower limit of its hardiness range, applying a layer of root mulch is essential. This mulch protects the root system from harsh winter freezes and prevents damaging root heaving, while also significantly helping to retain vital soil moisture during the growing season.
Maintenance for Lobelia × speciosa STARSHIP SCARLET is generally low. Deadheading is often unnecessary as the flower spikes fade, but observing the plant for early signs of slug or snail damage is recommended. If grown from seed, specific cultural adjustments may be necessary, but named hybrids like STARSHIP SCARLET often establish quickly and flower in their first year.
Landscape Uses
Lobelia × speciosa STARSHIP SCARLET excels wherever high moisture levels can be maintained. Its stately, upright habit makes it an outstanding choice for adding late-season height and brilliant scarlet color to mixed borders, particularly those situated near a water source. It performs beautifully in wet meadows or along the visible edges of streams and ponds, functioning perfectly as a water garden or rain garden centerpiece.
Because of its specialized moisture requirements, companion planting should focus on other moisture-loving perennials capable of handling similar conditions. Consider pairing the vivid red flowers with moisture-tolerant blue or purple flowers for high-contrast visual drama, or use contrasting foliage plants that tolerate wet feet.
When used in rain gardens, this Lobelia effectively manages stormwater runoff while providing essential nectar for late-season pollinators. The height of Lobelia × speciosa STARSHIP SCARLET (up to 2 feet) allows it to anchor the middle or back of a border designed specifically for damp conditions.
Standout Features
Flower Qualities
- Showy
Noteworthy Characteristics
Lobelia × speciosa is a hybrid designation that covers plants developed from L. Fulgens, L. Cardinalis and L. Siphilitica. These hybrids are noted for having attractive green foliage (often flushed with red, purple or bronze), attractive flowers (shades of lavender, pink or red) and a long summer bloom period (July to September). STARSHIP SCARLET specifically offers numerous stems of bright scarlet red flowers and bronze green foliage, resulting in a sturdy, bushy plant that flowers readily even in its initial year of planting. The tubular flowers are highly attractive to essential wildlife such as butterflies and hummingbirds.
Tolerances
- Deer
- Wet Soil
Potential Problems
This specific Lobelia hybrid generally resists serious insect or disease issues, simplifying its cultivation. The primary threat to foliage comes from common garden pests like snails and slugs, which find the tender leaves palatable, especially during damper weather. Management often involves deploying baits or physical barriers early in the season. A key consideration for gardeners is that L. X speciosa hybrids are sometimes treated as short-lived perennials, sometimes being grown strictly as annuals due to inconsistent perennial performance in certain microclimates.
Frequently Asked Questions
What hardiness zones is Lobelia suitable for?
Lobelia × speciosa STARSHIP SCARLET is hardy in USDA Zones 5 through 8, requiring root protection in the colder end of that range.
How large does Lobelia × speciosa STARSHIP SCARLET grow?
This cultivar typically reaches a height between 1.5 and 2 feet tall with a spread ranging from 0.5 to 1 foot wide.
When does Lobelia bloom?
You can expect prolific blooming from this variety of Lobelia to occur consistently from July straight through September, displaying striking scarlet red flowers.
What sun exposure does Lobelia × speciosa STARSHIP SCARLET need?
This plant performs best in locations receiving full sun to part shade, remembering that crucial afternoon shade is beneficial in hotter summer regions.
Conclusion
Lobelia × speciosa STARSHIP SCARLET delivers reliable, electrifying scarlet color late into the growing season while demanding little effort beyond ensuring consistent moisture. Its wetland tolerance makes it a functional and beautiful anchor for specialized garden areas. Before planting, confirm that your intended location can maintain the medium to wet soil conditions necessary for this magnificent Lobelia to thrive year after year.
Companion Planting
Given the essential requirement for wet soil, select companions that share similar moisture needs to create a thriving, synergistic planting scheme. Good partners for Lobelia × speciosa STARSHIP SCARLET include other moisture-loving moisture lovers like Chelone (Turtlehead), Iris species suited to damp areas, and various true bog plants. Selecting companions with contrasting foliage textures, such as ferns or grasses that tolerate wet feet, will enhance the visual impact of the upright, flower-laden spikes of the Lobelia.
Wildlife Benefits
The tubular flowers of Lobelia × speciosa STARSHIP SCARLET are perfectly shaped for nectar feeders, making this plant an absolute magnet for hummingbirds during their migratory periods and throughout the summer. Butterflies are also highly attracted to the bright color and form of the blooms. Planting this Lobelia provides essential high-energy fuel for these beneficial visitors, significantly boosting the ecological value of your rain garden or moist border.
