Lobelia 'Starship Scarlet'

Description and Characteristics

Lobelia speciosa 'Starship Scarlet' is a bold, upright herbaceous perennial in the Starship Series, bred for enhanced vigour, compact habit, and earlier flowering. This cultivar stands out with its vibrant scarlet-red flower spikes set against dark green to bronze-tinted foliage, creating dramatic colour contrast in summer and early autumn borders.

Reaching 60–75 cm in height and spreading 30–40 cm, ‘Starship Scarlet’ is prized for its neat form, strong flowering stems, and ability to provide a vertical accent in planting schemes. It blooms from mid-summer through early autumn, typically July to September, with numerous tubular flowers that are particularly attractive to bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds.

• Bright scarlet-red flower spikes on strong, upright stems

• Compact and tidy growth habit ideal for front or mid-border

• Blooms from July to September with a long-lasting display

• Foliage is dark green with a bronze-purple tinge

• Suitable for beds, borders, cottage gardens, and large containers

• Hardy in USDA Zones 6–9 / RHS H5 to H6 (approx. -15°C to -23°C with protection)

Growing Conditions and Maintenance

Lobelia 'Starship Scarlet' is easy to grow with consistent moisture and well-prepared soil. It’s ideal for moist borders, rain gardens, or the edges of ponds and streams, but it also performs reliably in standard beds with proper care.

• Light Requirements:

  • Grows best in full sun to partial shade

  • In hotter regions, partial afternoon shade is beneficial to prevent stress and leaf scorch

• Soil Preferences:

  • Requires moist, rich, and well-drained soil

  • Prefers loamy or humus-rich soil with good organic content

  • Not suitable for dry or drought-prone soils without irrigation

• Watering Needs:

  • Needs consistent soil moisture—do not allow to dry out during the growing season

  • Particularly important during hot, dry spells or when grown in containers

  • Apply mulch in spring to help retain moisture

• Feeding:

  • Apply a balanced, slow-release fertiliser in early spring

  • Monthly feeding with liquid fertiliser during the flowering season will support lush growth and bloom production

• Deadheading and Pruning:

  • Deadhead faded flower spikes to extend the blooming period and maintain tidiness

  • Cut back stems to the base after flowering is complete or in late autumn

  • In early spring, remove any winter-damaged stems to make way for new growth

• Overwintering:

  • In colder climates, apply a thick mulch layer in autumn to insulate the crown

  • Container-grown plants should be moved to a sheltered or frost-free location

  • In mild areas, it may remain semi-evergreen with adequate drainage

Design Uses, Companions, and Pest Resistance

Lobelia 'Starship Scarlet' adds vibrant vertical drama to mixed perennial beds and is equally effective in pollinator gardens, modern borders, or wildlife-friendly landscapes. It is highly ornamental and low maintenance when sited correctly.

• Design Applications:

  • Excellent for sunny to part-shade borders, pond edges, rain gardens, and containers

  • Provides a dramatic vertical accent when planted in groups or drifts

  • Ideal for cottage gardens, prairie-style plantings, and pollinator-focused displays

• Companion Plants:

  • Pairs beautifully with echinacea, rudbeckia, coreopsis, salvia, and ornamental grasses

  • Mix with other moisture lovers like astilbe, ligularia, or hosta for a lush look

  • Blends well with silver foliage (e.g., artemisia) or contrasting purple hues for a rich palette

• Wildlife Benefits:

  • High nectar source for bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds

  • Useful in biodiversity-focused and wildlife garden designs

• Pest and Disease Resistance:

  • Generally resistant to pests, though may attract slugs and snails when young

  • Ensure good drainage and avoid crown rot by not planting too deep

  • Space plants appropriately to allow air circulation and reduce mildew risk

• Container Use:

  • Performs exceptionally in large containers with moisture-retentive, free-draining compost

  • Use as a central feature surrounded by low-growing trailing plants or foliage contrast

• Size
  2L

We currently only deliver within the island of Ireland, other countries can be quoted for by contacting [email protected] or via telephone on 06964084
 

Standard Delivery is FREE on orders over €250*

All standard deliveries will be completed within 5-7 working days via Fastway Couriers, any delay to this delivery time, the customer will be notified by One of our staff.

The in-Store delivery charge will vary compared with online, in-store delivery charge is done on a case by case basis. 

* Only mainland Ireland addresses qualify for free delivery.
 

Live Plants Delivery

Our live plants are packed with care and diligence by our staff, our horticulturists review each plant before despatch to ensure quality is maintained.
Live Plant delivery charges are not calculated on weight but on the space required per package to ensure safe delivery, so delivery charges may vary as some plants require more space than others when packed.
All live plants are despatched within 3-5 working days where possible, our couriers aim to deliver within 48 hours of despatch from our Garden Centre to allow the plant to arrive in healthy condition.
 

Click & Collect

Can’t wait for delivery? Why not try our FREE Click & Collect service? Simply make your purchase online and collect it from our store located in Croagh Co. Limerick. Our staff will contact you by phone when your order is ready for collection (Please allow 24 hours minimum). When collecting your item, call the store on 069-64084. We will then load into your car as required. This service is available in-store 9am – 6pm Monday – Saturday (No collections on Sundays)

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If you have any further questions about the online order payment please contact us via ­069 640 84 or mail.