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Cottage Gardens

Can't find blue lobelia in local nurseries

15 years ago

Might someone know why I cannot find lobelia at either Home Depot or OSH? Is it the time of year that it is available? I have purple lobelia that I purchased 2 years ago and want to find another for a hanging planter, but my local HD said they would have the Mgr call me to let me know if they will get the plant in or not.

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Comments (9)

token28001
15 years ago
It's not available here for another 3 weeks. Usually mid April. Not sure what your zone is.
mangomoon
Original Author
15 years ago
Ok, that explains it. My zone is listed in my post by my screen name. It is Sunset's zone 24, Coastal (Central coast) marine layer, marine dominated climate, but warmer than Z-17 (Northern CA). Cool summers, mild winters.

When I first signed up with Gardenweb it couldn't help me find this zone. It somehow came up with Z-10, which is way off, so I inserted the correct zone myself. GW is not accurate in offering all of the zones when signing up.
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token28001
15 years ago
Ah. I'm not familiar with those zones. I know you guys have lots of microclimates out there.
mangomoon
Original Author
15 years ago
LOL- neither is GW. It kept assigning me the wrong zone (10) and an experienced landscape friend of mine told me that I was in 24. I also learned (duh!), that the lower the number the colder the climate. We also have Hawaii like temps out on the coast and can grow gardenia very well!
scully931
15 years ago
Kind of early for lobelia. But, I agree - HD has GORGEOUS lobelia every year. I can never resist.
Annie
15 years ago
I found some the other day in the garden center at WalMart while I was strolling through there.
It is about three weeks early for this area, but they don't care if a late frost comes in and kills all their plants, I swear they don't. They had pink Heather blooming too. I was surely tempted - $3 a gallon pot. But, it looks best planted in mass...and no mun$$$...no mass.

I will not be buying any bedding plants until after April 15th, if at all this year. Too risky this early.

But it sure was pretty to look at all their plants!
(Poor plants.)

~Annie
mangomoon
Original Author
15 years ago
I was at Wal-Mart and didn't see any. Yes it may be too early and I fear losing the plants. I only have one in purple that is just gorgeous and has been blooming all Winter. I have had this plant since a year ago, but they are very sensitive to re-potting. I moved it from one planter to the next and it died, and I trimmed it back and it finally grew back even more beautiful than before. I would worry in my climate since my bird bath water seems to freeze in my climate.
token28001
15 years ago
Blue lobelia is now available from our local growers in 6" pots, but only in limited quantities.
seamommy
15 years ago
Your Sunset Zone is different from the USDA Zones that GW uses. I have no idea what my Sunset Zone is, but I have been familiar with the USDA Zones for over 40 years. Sunset came along fairly recently and the method for determining their zones is kind of complicated. Cheryl

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