Pale Spiked Lobelia is an erect, flowering, perennial herb in the bell flower family that is usually short lived. At maturity, it can reach a height of more than 2 feet. It has long, narrow leaves at the base of the plant and a single, slender stem that rises 3 1/2 inches high and supports a spike of small, light blue or white flowers that bloom in summer. In nature, the plant is found throughout southeastern Canada and the eastern United States in meadows, fields, thickets, and in dry sandy soil. Pale Spiked Lobelia does best in full or partial sun and moist to slightly dry, rich and loamy soil. It does tolerate full shade as well as somewhat rocky conditions. Before the plant matures, you must keep the soil consistently moist in order to keep the small seedlings alive. The leaves and stems contain a watery white latex that is toxic to small mammals. Diseases, Insect Pests, and Other Plant Problems: No known diseases or insect pests. Lower leaves may turn yellow and fall off the stem during a drought. Over watering or too much fertilizer can cause this plant to flop over. More information on Lobelia .
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Shallow Rocky
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
4 - Herbaceous
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Ascending; Erect
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Alternate
Leaf shape
Lanceolate; Ovate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf size
3-6 inches long, 1-3 inches wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves occur along the lower half of the stem, and are up to 3½ inches long and 1 inch across. Lanceolate or narrowly ovate, but wider at the tip than the base. Margins often have widely spaced teeth, but are usually smooth.
Flower color
Blue; Purple/Lavender; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Raceme; Spike
Flower shape
Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Flowers can be white, scarlet, or blue, 5-parted and tubular with upper and lower lips on a long spike of flowers about 3-12 inches long. The individual flowers are about 1/3 of an inch across. The small upper lip is divided into 2 lobes; the larger lower lip is divided into 3 lobes. A purple or dark blue stigma from the upper part of the corolla tube bends downward at its tip. The base of the flower consists of a tubular calyx with 5 teeth.
Bloom time
Summer
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit detail
The flowers are replaced by seedpods that split open, exposing tiny seeds to the wind.
Stem color
Green
Stem detail
Single, simple stem is densely downy toward the base but smooth above and often ridged or angular near the inflorescence.