Royal Horticultural Society Award of Garden Merit 1993 Crystal Palace Lobelia, a dwarf species, is a tender perennial (Zones 10-11), usually grown as an annual, offering spring and summer interest. Lush and reliable, it blooms profusely in masses of showy, dainty dark blue flowers that smother the long-flowering plant throughout the season. Borne in large, loose clusters, the flowers attract butterflies. A Lobelia erinus, a highly popular traditional garden favorite, Crystal Palace has an upright, compact, bushy habit of narrow, bronze-tipped green leaves. It is shown to best effect grouped or massed as it forms a low cushy mat of intensely colored blooms. Lobelia is perfect for rock gardens, beds, border edges, and containers. Lobelia prefer full sun to dappled shade and organically rich, evenly moist, well-drained soils. The plants perform best in cool spring weather and may decline in hot and humid summer conditions. So, under those conditions, more shade, consistent water, and a 2-inch layer of mulch is recommended. They are deer tolerant and virtually pest and disease free. Start lobelia seeds indoors 8 to 10 weeks before last frost and transplant seedlings to the garden after all threat of frost has passed.