Purple Lobelia (Lobelia × speciosa ‘Vedrariensis’)

Purple Lobelia | Lobelia × speciosa ‘Vedrariensis’

Elegant violet purple flower spikes for pond margins, bog gardens, and damp borders

Purple Lobelia, also known as Lobelia × speciosa ‘Vedrariensis’, is a striking late summer flowering marginal plant that brings dramatic colour, vertical structure, and excellent wildlife value to pond margins and bog gardens. With its tall spires of deep violet purple flowers rising above rich dark green foliage tinged with red, this elegant perennial creates a bold focal point in both naturalistic and formal water garden planting schemes.

Flowering from July through to September, Purple Lobelia provides a long lasting display of vivid tubular flowers that are highly attractive to bees, butterflies, hoverflies, and other pollinating insects. The intense purple blooms create excellent contrast against surrounding greenery and combine beautifully with ornamental grasses, water lilies, sedges, and other moisture loving perennials.

One of the most attractive features of Lobelia ‘Vedrariensis’ is its upright growth habit. Reaching heights of up to 120 cm, it adds impressive vertical interest around ponds, streams, and damp borders without becoming overly invasive. The narrow foliage emerges with rich green colouring and attractive reddish tones, helping the plant remain visually interesting even before flowering begins.

Purple Lobelia thrives in consistently moist soil and shallow pond margins, making it ideal for bog gardens, wildlife ponds, damp borders, and marginal shelves. It performs best in full sun where flowering is at its strongest, although it will also tolerate partial shade in cooler areas of the garden. The combination of elegant flower spikes and attractive foliage makes it a fantastic plant for adding colour late in the season when many other pond plants begin to fade.

This hardy perennial is particularly effective when planted alongside Pickerel Weed, Iris varieties, Cyperus sedges, Cardinal Flowers, and hardy water lilies. Together these plants create a rich layered effect that gives ponds a mature and professionally planted appearance.

As well as its ornamental qualities, Purple Lobelia also contributes to the ecological health of wildlife ponds. The flowers provide an important nectar source during late summer, while the dense stems and foliage offer shelter for insects and amphibians around the pond edge.

Despite its exotic appearance, Lobelia × speciosa ‘Vedrariensis’ is relatively low maintenance and reliable in UK conditions. Once established, it returns year after year with minimal attention, making it an excellent choice for both experienced pond keepers and beginner wildlife gardeners alike.

Whether used as a statement plant beside a formal pond or integrated into a natural wildlife planting scheme, Purple Lobelia delivers exceptional colour, structure, and wildlife benefits throughout the growing season.

🇬🇧 UK-grown aquatic plant: Grown at a dedicated aquatic plant nursery in the South of England and carefully prepared for delivery across the UK.

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Key Benefits

• Tall violet purple flower spikes from summer into autumn
• Excellent for bees, butterflies, and pollinators
• Adds strong vertical structure to pond margins
• Attractive dark green foliage with red tinges
• Perfect for bog gardens and damp borders
• Hardy and reliable in UK conditions
• Ideal for wildlife friendly pond planting

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Reasons to Buy

• Creates dramatic late season colour around ponds
• Excellent architectural plant for pond edges
• Combines beautifully with water lilies and marginal plants
• Easy to grow in moist soil or shallow water
• Adds height and elegance to wildlife ponds

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Care Instructions

• Plant Purple Lobelia in consistently moist soil or shallow pond margins.
• Position in full sun or partial shade for healthy growth and abundant flowering.
• Keep the planting area damp during dry weather, especially during the first growing season.
• Remove spent flower spikes after blooming to maintain a tidy appearance and encourage prolonged flowering.
• Cut foliage back to ground level during late autumn or early spring before new growth appears.
• Tall stems may benefit from support in particularly exposed or windy locations.

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Flowering Period

July to September

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Size and Growing Conditions

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Dispatching Your Pond Plants

Your Purple Lobelia will be carefully packed to protect the foliage and roots during transit.

Orders received by 11am Monday to Wednesday are normally dispatched on the following working day using a next working day courier service. During busy periods, dispatch may occasionally take an extra day.

To avoid plants being held in depots over a weekend, we do not usually dispatch on Fridays. Highlands and Islands orders using a two day service are not normally dispatched on Thursdays.

Available basket sizes:

• 1 Litre Basket – usually 11 × 11 × 11cm square; some varieties may be supplied in a 14cm diameter × 10cm round basket
• Pack of 3 × 1 Litre Baskets – each usually 11 × 11 × 11cm square

Planting depth is measured from the top of the aquatic basket to the water surface.

Finofil baskets are manufactured in the UK from 100% recycled plastic and are fully recyclable. Their fine dual-mesh construction helps retain aquatic soil while allowing water and nutrients to reach the roots. Basket shape may vary slightly depending on the plant and supplier availability.

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Similar pond plants

For another pond-edge planting option, compare Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis) and Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). Explore the Lobelia pond plant group to compare the whole collection.

Explore more marginal pond plants or browse our complete pond plants range. Need baskets, aquatic soil or planting essentials? Browse our pond plant baskets and aquatic planting supplies.