Lobelia inflata Linnaeus. Common name: Indian-tobacco. Phenology: Jul-Nov. Habitat: Fields, meadows, gardens, open woodlands, disturbed areas. Distribution: PE west to MN, south to GA, AL, se. MS, e. LA, s. AR, and se. OK.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, C, F, G, GrPl, GW2, Il, K4, Mi, Mo2, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, Tat, Tn, Va, W, McVaugh (1936a), Spaulding & Barger (2016); > Lobelia inflata L. var. inflata — WV; > Lobelia inflata L. var. simplex (Raf.) Millsp. — WV. Basionym: Lobelia inflata L. 1753
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Great Plains: FAC
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 6
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend.
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© theo_witsell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by theo_witsell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
See something missing or incorrect about Lobelia inflata? Let us know here:
- Please include your name and if possible, email in case when need to clarify what you wrote.
- If you opt out of including email, please be as specific as possible (e.g., which photo is incorrect?)
- Please do not submit questions asking to identify plants or about horticultural topics (e.g., how do I control an invasive plant in my garden?). Instead, those questions can be submitted here for the Carolinas region only.
- Please do not send us feedback about unkeyed species as this work is ongoing.
- Please allow time for flora edits to show in our next data release. We greatly appreciate your feedback but may require extra time to research complicated taxonomic issues.
Horticultural Information
Intro: Slender, erect annual found in fields, meadows, gardens, open woodlands and disturbed areas.
Stems: Stems branched and hairy.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, , mostly sessile, oval-oblong, to 3 in. long, toothed.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers in loose, narrow racemes terminating the stem and branches, each on a short stalk flanked by inconspicuous bracts. Flowers about ¼ in. long; pale-blue; bilaterally symmetric and tubular; opening to 2 spreading lips, the upper one divided into 2 sharp lobes, the lower into 3 sharp lobes. The tubular calyx is bell-shaped, veined, and has 5 sharp-pointed, lance-shaped lobes.
Fruits:
Comments:
Height: 6-36 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Slender, erect annual found in fields, meadows, gardens, open woodlands and disturbed areas.
stems: Stems branched and hairy.
leaves: Leaves alternate, , mostly sessile, oval-oblong, to 3 in. long, toothed.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers in loose, narrow racemes terminating the stem and branches, each on a short stalk flanked by inconspicuous bracts. Flowers about ¼ in. long; pale-blue; bilaterally symmetric and tubular; opening to 2 spreading lips, the upper one divided into 2 sharp lobes, the lower into 3 sharp lobes. The tubular calyx is bell-shaped, veined, and has 5 sharp-pointed, lance-shaped lobes.
fruits:
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: eastern North America
0 unsaved edits on this page.