Life Span
Perennial
Annual
Type
Epiphyte
Flowering Plants, Shrubs
Origin
Southeastern United States, Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean, Central America, South America
America
Types
-
Lobelia aberdarica, Lobelia leschenaultiana, Lobelia canbyi
Number of Varieties
3415
0
40000
👆🏻
Habitat
Swamps
Open areas, River side, Woods
USDA Hardiness Zone
10-134-9
0
99
👆🏻
AHS Heat Zone
12-9
8-1
Sunset Zone
H1, H2, 23, 24
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Habit
Clump-Forming
Cushion/Mound-forming
Plant Size
Minimum Height
30.50 cm0.54 cm
0
3900
👆🏻
Minimum Width
25.60 cm0.38 cm
0
6350
👆🏻
Plant Color
Flower Color
White, Burgundy, Dark Red, Light Green, Violet, Dark Salmon
Blue, Red, Violet, White
Flower Color Modifier
Multi-Color
Bicolor
Fruit Color
-
-
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
Dark Green
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
Green
Leaf Color in Winter
Green
-
Shape
Leaf Shape
Long Linear
Cushion
Thorns
✔
✘
✔
✘
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall
Fall, Summer
Growing Conditions
Sunlight
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial shade
Growth Rate
Slow
Fast
Type of Soil
-
Well drained
The pH of Soil
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Acidic
Soil Drainage
Well drained
Well drained
Bloom Time
Late Spring, Early Summer, Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall, Fall, Late Fall
Early Fall, Early Summer, Late Summer, Mid fall, Mid Spring
Repeat Bloomer
✔
✘
✔
✘
Tolerances
-
-
Where to Plant?
Container, Ground, Pot
Container, Ground, Pot
How to Plant?
Bulbs, By dividing rhizomes, tubers, Divison
Seedlings
Plant Maintenance
Medium
Medium
Watering Plants
Watering Requirements
Average Water Needs, Do Not over Water, Requires regular watering
Form a Soil ring to water efficiently, Prefer drip-irrigation instead of Over-head watering, Requires watering in the growing season, Use Mulches to help prevent water loss during hot and windy weather, Water twice a day in the initial period
In Summer
Lots of watering
Lots of watering
In Spring
Moderate
Moderate
In Winter
Average Water
Average Water
Soil
Soil pH
Neutral, Slightly Acidic
Acidic
Soil Type
-
Well drained
Soil Drainage Capacity
Well drained
Well drained
Sun Exposure
Partial Sun, Partial shade
Full Sun, Partial shade
Pruning
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead leaves
Cut or pinch the stems, Prune after flowering, Prune to control growth, Remove dead or diseased plant parts, Remove deadheads
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
Pests and Diseases
Red blotch
Botrytis Blight, Crown rot, Pythium rot, Stem spot
Plant Tolerance
Drought
Drought
Flowers
✔
✘
✔
✘
Flower Petal Number
Single
Single
Fruits
Showy Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Edible Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrance
Fragrant Flower
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Fruit
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Leaf
✔
✘
✔
✘
Fragrant Bark/Stem
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Foliage
✔
✘
✔
✘
Showy Bark
✔
✘
✔
✘
Foliage Texture
Coarse
Fine
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
Matte
Evergreen
✔
✘
✔
✘
Invasive
✔
✘
✔
✘
Self-Sowing
✔
✘
✔
✘
Attracts
Bees, pollinators
Birds, Hummingbirds
Allergy
-
coma, convulsions, Diarrhea, exhaustion, Nausea, salivation, Vomiting, weakness
Uses
Aesthetic Uses
Bouquets, Showy Purposes
Beautification, Bouquets, Showy Purposes, Used for decorating walls, fences, gates, hedges, etc.
Beauty Benefits
-
-
Edible Uses
✔
✘
✔
✘
Environmental Uses
Air purification
Air purification
Plant Benefits
Medicinal Uses
Cancer, Eye Problems
Asthma, Bronchitis, Croup
Part of Plant Used
Bulbs, Flowers, Leaves
Leaves, Seeds
Other Uses
Used as Ornamental plant
Showy Purposes
Used As Indoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Used As Outdoor Plant
✔
✘
✔
✘
Garden Design
Container, Feature Plant, Houseplant, Mixed Border
Bedding Plant, Bog Garden, Edging, Foundation, Hanging Basket, Houseplant, Mixed Border, Rock Garden / Wall
Botanical Name
PROSTHECHEA cochleata
Lobelia laxiflora
Common Name
Clamshell Orchid, Cockleshell Orchid, Black Orchid
Lobelia
In Hindi
Clamshell Orchid
Lobelia
In German
Clamshell Orchid
Lobelie
In French
Clamshell Orchid
Lobelia
In Spanish
Clamshell Orchid
Lobelia
In Greek
Encyclia Cochleata
λοβηλία
In Portuguese
Clamshell Orchid
Lobélia
In Polish
Clamshell Orchid
Lobelia
In Latin
Clamshell Orchid
Lobelia
Kingdom
Plantae
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Anthophyta
Class
Liliopsida
Dicotyledonae
Order
Orchidales
Asterales
Family
Orchidaceae
Campanulaceae
Genus
Prosthechea
Lobelia
Clade
Angiosperms, Monocots
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
Tribe
Epidendreae
-
Subfamily
Epidendroideae
Lobelioideae
Number of Species
50415
1
27800
👆🏻