I have a rather large Lobelia excelsa in my garden, grown from seed I purchased from Plant World seeds in Devon, several years ago.
Although I only get a few flowers on this plant, I like it. It has stature and I would describe it as a useful architectural plant…..I was informed by Ray Brown of Plant World seeds that it really shouldn't flower up in the north, but it does.
It also spreads and is taking more than its allotted space in my small garden; currently it's trying to oust a small Rhododendron called Ginny Gee, which is a lovely reliable little plant.
Today, I decided that it had to be ‘sorted', so with help from my husband it was reduced in size….the instructions being that I wanted ‘it upsetting but not killed'….strange he knew exactly what I meant….I must stop reading so many crime novels!
Maggie Duguid
Text and photos by Maggie Duguid, who is a member of the HPS North East Group.
