Trailing Lobelia - Purple - Lobelia erinus - Hanging cascades of vivid flowers - Fresh Seeds

Trailing lobelia in purple (Lobelia pendula) is a decorative annual with slender, arching stems that spill neatly over the edges of containers, forming showy cascades of bloom. It becomes covered in small purple flowers, bringing a light, elegant look to mixed plantings and making a beautiful feature on its own in pots, window boxes and hanging baskets. Flowering starts in early summer and continues into autumn, with dense, evenly blooming growth that keeps displays looking fresh for weeks.

Sowing depth

Sow the seeds very shallowly to around 0.1 cm. Press them gently onto moist compost without covering with soil. Place the container in a bright position and keep the compost moderately moist to support even germination of the fine seeds.

Sowing time under cover

Sow in March in a light, free draining growing medium. A temperature of about 18 to 20 C supports quick, healthy seedling growth. Prick out young plants once they have 2 to 3 seed leaves to help them branch well before planting into pots or window boxes.

Planting time

Transplant young plants to their final position in May once any risk of frost has passed. By then, they should be well rooted and better able to handle changing conditions. In containers, use fertile, lightly moist compost with good drainage to support strong growth and abundant flowering.

Spacing

Allow about 10 x 15 cm between plants. This spacing gives them room to spread and build fuller clumps, helping them fill the space quickly and create impressive trailing sprays of small purple flowers.

Flowering period

Trailing lobelia in purple begins flowering in June and keeps its colour through to October. Flowers appear continuously, creating a dense blanket of colour that brightens containers and beds right up to the first cooler days of autumn.

Growing

Grow in a sunny or lightly shaded position, sheltered from strong winds. Use fertile, free draining compost, as overly wet conditions can weaken the root system. Water regularly during hot weather, but moderately, keeping the compost lightly moist. For generous flowering, feed with a multi nutrient fertiliser for flowering plants. Regularly pinching or trimming the shoot tips encourages further branching and increases the number of flowers, resulting in dense, decorative growth.

Why buy from GardenSeedsMarket

Choosing seeds from GardenSeedsMarket means you receive carefully selected seed that is tested for germination. GardenSeedsMarket also ensures fast, secure dispatch, so your seeds arrive fresh and in excellent condition. The experienced support team is on hand to help with variety choice and practical care advice, giving you added confidence from sowing through to flowering.

Pack contents

The pack contains 0.1 g of seeds. The packaging includes growing guidance and the sow by date.