Life Span
Annual and Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Type
Perennial
  
Perennial
  
Origin
Europe, Northern Europe, Western Europe, United Kingdom
  
Northeastern United States, Mid-Atlantic United States, Southeastern United States, Central United States, Texas, Canada
  
Types
M. v. brevipetala
M. v. collina
M. v. frozen
M. v. grandiflora
M. v. paui
M. v. verna
M. v. japonica
  
Not available
  
Number of Varieties
Not Available
  
Habitat
gardens, Grassland, Prairies, Suburban areas, Tropical regions
  
Open areas, stream banks, Wet Woods
  
USDA Hardiness Zone
4-7
  
4-8
  
AHS Heat Zone
8-1
  
8-1
  
Sunset Zone
Not Available
  
1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14, 15, 16, 17
  
Habit
Mat-forming
  
Clump-Forming
  
Plant Size
  
  
Plant Color
  
  
Flower Color
White
  
Blue, Lavender, Blue Violet
  
Flower Color Modifier
Bicolor
  
Bicolor
  
Fruit Color
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Leaf Color in Spring
Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Summer
Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Fall
Green
  
Green, Dark Green
  
Leaf Color in Winter
Light Green
  
Light Green
  
Shape
  
  
Leaf Shape
Tiny
  
Lanceolate
  
Thorns
No
  
No
  
Plant Season
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter
  
Summer, Fall
  
Growing Conditions
  
  
Sunlight
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Growth Rate
Medium
  
Medium
  
Type of Soil
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
The pH of Soil
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Drainage
Average
  
Average
  
Bloom Time
Spring, Late Spring, Early Summer
  
Summer, Late Summer, Early Fall
  
Repeat Bloomer
Not Available
  
No
  
Tolerances
Drought
  
Deer resistant, Shade areas, Wet Site
  
Where to Plant?
Ground, Pot
  
Ground
  
How to Plant?
Seedlings, Stem Planting
  
Divison, Seedlings
  
Plant Maintenance
Medium
  
Low
  
Watering Plants
  
  
Watering Requirements
Keep ground moist, Never Over-water, Requires watering in the growing season, Water more in summer
  
Do not let dry out between waterings, Needs Very high moisture, Requires consistently moist soil
  
In Summer
Lots of watering
  
Lots of watering
  
In Spring
Moderate
  
Moderate
  
In Winter
Average Water
  
Average Water
  
Soil
  
  
Soil pH
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Acidic, Neutral, Alkaline
  
Soil Type
Clay, Loam, Sand
  
Clay, Loam
  
Soil Drainage Capacity
Average
  
Average
  
Sun Exposure
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial shade
  
Pruning
Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads, Requires very little pruning
  
Remove damaged leaves, Remove dead branches, Remove dead flowers, Remove dead leaves, Remove deadheads
  
Fertilizers
All-Purpose Liquid Fertilizer
  
10-10-10, Balanced liquid fertilizer
  
Pests and Diseases
Fungal Diseases
  
Head smut, Rust, Slugs, Snails
  
Plant Tolerance
Drought
  
Deer resistant, Shade areas, Wet Site
  
Flowers
Yes
  
Yes
  
Flower Petal Number
Single
  
Single
  
Fruits
  
  
Showy Fruit
No
  
No
  
Edible Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrance
  
  
Fragrant Flower
Not Available
  
No
  
Fragrant Fruit
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Leaf
No
  
No
  
Fragrant Bark/Stem
No
  
No
  
Showy Foliage
Yes
  
No
  
Showy Bark
No
  
No
  
Foliage Texture
Fine
  
Medium
  
Foliage Sheen
Glossy
  
Matte
  
Evergreen
No
  
No
  
Invasive
No
  
No
  
Self-Sowing
Yes
  
Yes
  
Attracts
Butterflies
  
Bees, Birds, Butterflies, Hummingbirds
  
Allergy
no allergic reactions
  
Skin irritation, Skin rash, Toxic if not prepared properly
  
Uses
  
  
Aesthetic Uses
Beautification
  
Beautification, Cottage Garden, Showy Purposes
  
Beauty Benefits
Not Available
  
Skin Problems
  
Edible Uses
Yes
  
No
  
Environmental Uses
Air purification
  
Air purification
  
Plant Benefits
  
  
Medicinal Uses
Burns, Thyroid problems, tuberculosis
  
Diarrhea, Dysentry, Healing, Stomach pain, Syphilis
  
Part of Plant Used
Flowers, Leaves
  
Bark, Flowers, Leaves, Root
  
Other Uses
Culinary use, Used As Food
  
Used as Ornamental plant, Used for its medicinal properties
  
Used As Indoor Plant
No
  
No
  
Used As Outdoor Plant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Garden Design
Alpine, Container, Edging, Groundcover, Lawns and Turf, Mixed Border, Rock Garden, Wall
  
Mixed Border, Wildflower
  
Botanical Name
MINUARTIA verna
  
LOBELIA siphilitica
  
Common Name
Irish Moss
  
Great blue lobelia, great lobelia
  
In Hindi
आयरिश काई
  
महान ब्लू लोबेलिआ
  
In German
Irish Moss
  
Great Blue Lobelia
  
In French
Irish Moss
  
Great Lobelia bleu
  
In Spanish
musgo de irlanda
  
Gran Lobelia azul
  
In Greek
Irish Moss
  
Μεγάλη Μπλε Lobelia
  
In Portuguese
Moss irlandês
  
Grande Lobelia azul
  
In Polish
mech irlandzki
  
Great Blue Lobelia
  
In Latin
Irish Moss
  
Blue Lobelia
  
Kingdom
Plantae
  
Plantae
  
Phylum
Tracheophyta
  
Magnoliophyta
  
Class
Not Available
  
Magnoliopsida
  
Order
Caryophyllales
  
Campanulales
  
Family
Caryophyllaceae
  
Lobeliaceae
  
Genus
Minuartia
  
Lobelia
  
Clade
Angiosperms, Core eudicots, Eudicots
  
Angiosperms, Asterids, Eudicots
  
Tribe
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Subfamily
Not Available
  
Lobelioideae