Can anybody tell me what to do with Excelsa during the winter ? I live in Norfolk,UK. Fairly dry winters and very little snow. We currently grow Lobelia Tupa successfully [7feet high] and cut this down to the ground in late autumn [nov] and then a good thick mulch,but I cant find any advice about excelsa. Any help would be welcome. Current temp is about 5c and our daffs are through already
Hi Supatupa, I get your hardiness zone as 8. http://www.uk.gardenweb.com/forums/zones/hze1.html this site lists Lobelia excelsa as hardy to zones 9 and 10. It should reseed for you though. http://www.anniesannuals.com/signs/l/lobelia_excelsa.htm Here's what the seedlings would look like. http://theseedsite.co.uk/plant640.gif Newt
Thanks for your reponse,I will just mulch it the same as Tupa. 8c,wet and windy Happy New Year supatupa
Supa--a friend here has tupa and excelsa next to each other, and they have made it thru our recent winters okay...we're a bit colder than you most years it seems. They did say they might remove the excelsa as it is a more gangly plant, tho the flowers are pretty awesome. Like you, we can often grow these lobelias to good heights...I really like 'em. The mulching is probably always a good idea, tho I usually forget. A hard cold snap without snow would be tough on these plants...enjoy!
Hi,growest Thanks for your response,we have cut them back to the ground and given a good 6ins of mulch just in case.We have noticed that excelsa is a lot looser clump than tupa,although this its first winter. [What winter? today wet and 14c] Daffs now 3ins and glads starting to poke through supa
