Lobelia × speciosa ‘Fanship Scarlet’

‘Fanship Scarlet’ (also sold as ‘Fan Scarlet’) is a properly bold lobelia. Dense, strictly upright flower spikes carry vivid scarlet-red tubular flowers from midsummer, held above a compact mound of bronze-tinted foliage that adds to the drama.

Plants reach around 60 to 70cm tall and form a neat vigorous clump. Brilliant for pollinators, and a real magnet for hummingbird-style attention from bees.

Plant in moist, fertile soil in full sun or partial shade. These lobelias are damp-lovers, so they’ll work near a pond edge or in a border that doesn’t dry out. Mulch over the crown in winter in colder areas.

A cracking plant for a hot-colour scheme, a damp border, or alongside ligularias, rudbeckias and grasses.