Botanical nomenclature: Lobelia gregoriana ssp. gregorian / Lobelia deckenii ssp. keniensis
Common name: giant lobelia, lobelia gin tonic, lobelia tree
Family: campanulaceae
Origin: East Africa
Height: 1.50 – 3.50 meter
Brightness: full sun, partial shading
Climate: see description
A fantastic and very rare plant, a fascinating and special specimen for collectors.
Lobelia are common garden plants and are usually grown by their floriferous nature. As with most plants; there are also some species that surprise us and which often cause us perplexity.
Lobelia is no exception, with its two copies (lobelia gregoriana and lobelia telekii) also commonly known as the giant lobelias of the mountains of africa ..
One of these species is the lobelia gregoriana (formerly known as lobelia deckenii subsp..keniensis), endemic to Kenya’s mountains in the mountains of eastern Africa, growing in moist areas such as the bottom of the valleys; in contrast to its close relative, lobelia telekii, which grows in a similar but drier habitat.
It is characterized by broad and rigid leaves with a reddish hue forming a compact rosette and short trunk, interconnected by subterranean rhizomes.
Similar to many bromeliads, the leaf rosette maintains a reservoir of water between well-adjusted leaves, which is critical for survival in this inhospitable habitat. This reservoir freezes at night; a process that produces enough heat to keep the core of the plant alive until the morning sun thaws. Ice cubes formed at night. It is these ice cubes that give rise to their common name, lobelia gin tonic, possibly coined by the English.
When adult, a central rosette forms a breathtaking inflorescence, with curved bracts that are pollinated by birds.
Lobelia gregoriana is already found in successful cultivation by some plant collectors in southern africa (dunedin botanic garden), the united kingdom, tasmania and southern new zealand.
A fabulous and very rare plant, a fascinating specimen for collectors and nature lovers.
Lobelia (English)
Most seeds require oxygen to germinate, if buried too deep in their growing medium, or if the medium is too wet, the seeds may not get the oxygen they require.
Some seeds need to be in the light (surface sown) or in the dark (sown deep enough to receive little or no light) to germinate. A rule of thumb is to cover the seeds their own width deep in the growing medium, but some seeds prefer to be sown much deeper, and some fairly large seeds like to be surface sown (or higher).
Many seeds germinate best at certain temperatures, some will germinate at a comparatively wide range of temperatures, yet others need fluctuating temperatures.
Almost all seeds are waiting in a dormant state for some outside stimulus to break their dormancy, some just need sufficiently high humidity ambient, others need scarification, vernalization or to be passed through the intestines of an animal.
Lobelia seeds will usually germinate in 15-20 days, even under good conditions germination may be erratic.
Normally will only germinate with light so surface sow. Sow Lobelia seeds on the surface of a Well drained seed sowing mix at about 22°C.
Lobelia seeds need to be "overwintered" before they will germinate.
Stratification; cold treatment or vernalization. Seeds of some species need just a couple of weeks, others 3 months. Seeds can be stratified in dampened peat or sand, in a plastic box or bag at 4°C or 5°C in a refrigerator. The seeds should not be frozen or in a wet medium. Very small seeds can be sown on the surface of their growing medium, in pots sealed in plastic bags, and kept in the 'fridge. Many vernalized seeds need light to germinate when they are sown in the "Spring".
Place seed of perennial types in fridge for 3 months.
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