09/13/2025
Last week we shared a close-up of a mystery bloom at Fellowfield. Did you guess it?
It’s Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica)! This native wildflower (first slide) isn’t as common as its look-alike neighbor, purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), but it plays a much healthier role in our wetlands.
You’ve probably seen purple loosestrife (second slide)—those magenta flower spikes can be seen filling wet ditches this time of year. Brought by European colonists in the 1800s, it has spread widely across Michigan and is now a legally restricted invasive, meaning it can’t be sold, planted, or shared. Dense strands crowd out native plants, reduce food and shelter for birds and amphibians, and even clog the flow of water.
By contrast, Great Blue Lobelia supports ecosystem balance and diversity. Bumblebees land on its lower petals, triggering a nifty “trap-door” mechanism that opens the flower and dusts their backs with pollen. Broad leaves arching out from upright stems create cool cover for amphibians and insects. In autumn, sparrows and goldfinches eat its seeds. Shallow, fiberous roots help stabilize soft soils, prevent erosion, and filter water, keeping wetlands healthier for everyone.
Native peoples have used its roots and leaves for respiratory remedies, headaches, and even syphilis, hence its species name siphilitica.
Want to see more of this beauty? Plant it in a rain garden, pond edge, or low spot with moist soil and full to partial sun. It is easy to grow from seed and will self-seed gently over time. Cut seed stalks in fall and share them with neighbors to spread the joy! By planting and sharing, we can help Great Blue Lobelia return as a familiar summer bloom and a key member of healthy wetlands.