Lobelia speciosa Russian Princess

The Lobelia x speciosa Russian Princess is a high-colored variety of hybrid lobelia that deserves to be used more in damp gardens or at the edge of water features. This endearing plant overflows with life, forming a bunch of purple-chocolate leafy stems that end in extremely bright purple-violet tubular and bilabiate flowers. Generous and hardy, this short-lived perennial is also demanding, requiring a fresh to moist and fertile soil, and a rather sunny exposure.

The Lobelia x speciosa is a plant from the campanulaceae family of horticultural origin. Derived from the American species Lobelia cardinalis, Lobelia splendens, and Lobelia siphilitica, this herbaceous perennial with a short lifespan easily perpetuates by dividing the stumps every two years. The 'Russian Princess' variety forms a bushy and upright clump, 80 cm (32in) to 1 m (3ft) tall and 50 to 60 cm (20 to 24in) wide. It stands out with its beautiful oblong foliage, with dentate margins, of a purple colour with chocolate and shiny reflections, carried by solid stems of the same hue. Each stem branches out and bears from August to October long erect spikes adorned with very peculiar tubular corolla flowers, somewhat reminiscent of soft-winged butterflies: each 5 cm (2in) long flower consists of 2 lips, the upper lip being itself bilabiate, and the lower lip trilobed.

The Lobelia speciosa Russian Princess is a plant for moist to fresh soil, ideal for ornamental use on the banks of water points, but also very beautiful in a bed where the soil remains fresh in summer. In this usage, it can be associated with vernonias, Caffre lilies, white or pink hastate verbenas, or Physostegia virginiana. This variety will also be very beautiful accompanied by gray foliage in a tall bed. Plants like Artemisia lactiflora, Crex granularis, or Hosta 'Lacy Belle' will bring the silvery or bluish touch that forms a magnificent setting for its sparkling colors.