Lobelia speciosa Fan Burgundy seeds

Lobelia x speciosa ‘Fan Burgundy’ is a striking and floriferous perennial, remarkable for its long spikes of burgundy-red flowers that illuminate borders, beds and damp banks in the garden. This hybrid variety stands out for its compact habit, prolonged summer flowering and irresistible appeal to pollinators. It thrives in moist to wet soil, in sun or partial shade, and is perfectly suited to natural gardens or waterside plantings.

The species Lobelia speciosa does not exist in the wild: it is a horticultural name for a group of hybrids mainly derived from cross-breeding between North American species such as Lobelia cardinalis, Lobelia fulgens and Lobelia siphilitica. These species are native to North America, where they grow naturally in wetlands, along streams or in floodplain prairies.
From these cross-breeds, several ornamental cultivars have emerged, including the ‘Fan’ series, developed by Kieft Seeds, a Dutch company specialising in the selection of perennials for floriculture. The ‘Fan Burgundy’ cultivar is distinguished by its intense burgundy-red flowering, compact growth and excellent garden performance. Its hardiness is in the order of -5 to -10 °C, depending on the nature of the soil.

Lobelia speciosa ‘Fan Burgundy’ forms an upright, dense and well-structured clump. It reaches 55-60 cm in height and 25 to 30 cm in spread. The plant begins by developing a rosette of lanceolate, toothed, medium to dark green leaves, then produces sturdy, upright, slightly hairy stems. The alternate leaves are longer at the base and shorten as they ascend towards the inflorescences. The flowering extends from July to September-October, appearing as terminal spikes composed of tubular flowers, arranged in a spiral along the stems. Each 2 to 3 cm long flower opens into two lips curved outwards; it displays a deep red, almost purple colour, with a velvety finish. This flowering is very attractive to pollinators, especially bees, butterflies and sometimes hummingbirds in regions where they are present. The foliage is deciduous: the plant enters dormancy in autumn and regrows from the base the following spring. Although it is generally grown as a perennial, this Lobelia can sometimes behave as a biennial or short-lived perennial, but it self-sows modestly if conditions are favourable.

Lobelia speciosa ‘Fan Burgundy’ is an excellent plant for beds in moist ground and damp areas. It is also perfect for adding rhythm to summer container compositions and urban landscaping schemes. Planted at the edge of a pond or in a light woodland setting, it brings eye-catching colour where few other plants will grow. To showcase its flowering, pair it with heucheras such as ‘Obsidian’ or ‘Plum Pudding’. It also pairs beautifully with ligularias such as Ligularia dentata ‘Desdemona’, with its broad dark leaves and bright orange-yellow inflorescences, or with Astilbe arendsii ‘Fanal’ to play with red tones in partially shaded settings.

Coated seeds are seeds surrounded by a thin protective layer, often composed of clay, nutrients or a natural binder. This process facilitates their handling, particularly for very small seeds like those of lobelia, by making them larger and more regular. The coating also improves sowing precision, promotes more uniform germination, and may sometimes contain elements beneficial to germination.