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Perennial Lobelia?

14 years ago

{{gwi:288464}} I clearly remember planting a big, vigorous perennial lobelia last year, and it took well. It isn't the cardinalis variety, but a blue/purple one. Dunno if it's the siphilitica variety. I kept the tag but I have no idea where I put it. Anyway, this plant is growing approximately where I remember planting the lobelia, and I'm wondering if this is it, or if something else is slyly taking its place. The stem on this plant is ridged, which you can feel but not see. The leaves have no particular scent when rubbed, but a lobelia is a kind of mint, isn't it?

What is growing here? Is it the lobelia I hope it is?

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Comments (10)

Embothrium
14 years ago
There is some resemblance.
vjrnts
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks, bboy. I think so too. But I'm kinda hoping for a more definite ID! :-D
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vjrnts
Original Author
14 years ago
This isn't a lobelia! It's a Campanula punctata! NOW I remember what I planted there.

But then where is my lobelia?
tedhort
14 years ago
To me, the photo's subject plant more closely resembles a Lobelia -- that could be Campanula punctata in the bottom right hand corner of your photo ??

Regards,

Ted
remy_gw
14 years ago
I'm thinking the same thing as Ted. Campanula punctata has much wider lower leaves, and it doesn't develop a stalk like the plant in the photo does. Lobelia does have stalk like that. Also Campanula punctata has fine hairs on the stems. They seem to be absent in your photo above.
The leaves to the right do look like Campanula punctata lower leaves. I'm wondering if the campanula has grown over to the plant in the photo and is co-mingled with it. Lobelia is not blooming here yet so it would still be unnoticeable.
This is a pic of my 'Little Punky'. It is the best pic I have of leaves as opposed to flowers. It is a dwarf, but the larger forms look the same.
{{gwi:288465}}
Remy
vjrnts
Original Author
14 years ago
OK, I could EASILY be wrong. (Oh, so very easily! :-) ) It looks like it's starting to form flowers at the top, so I guess we'll see. I was looking at the stem, though. The stem on my plant is dark, almost brown, but all the pictures I've seen of lobelia have green stems.

I'll be back with more information when we get a flower.
vjrnts
Original Author
14 years ago
All right, this is what's forming on top of this plant. Lobelia or Campanula punctata?

{{gwi:288466}}

Whatever that is, this is probably the other one.

{{gwi:288467}}

Which is which?

(And thanks for the help!)
carol23_gw
14 years ago
The first looks like Lobelia. The second looks like a weed.
vjrnts
Original Author
14 years ago
:-/

I'm glad the first one is lobelia, that's what I thought it was. I had hoped that the second on was my lost C. punctata.

I'll see what develops.

Anyone else want to weigh in?
remy_gw
14 years ago
Neither are campanula. As Carol said the first one looks like lobelia, the second one looks like a weed.
Remy

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