Lobelia 'Ruby Slippers'
Trial: Perennial
Year Trialed: 2004, 2005
Good Qualities:
Year 1
Rich ruby color (4); Growing well, should do something next year, a few flowered, I kept them in pots this year and that was probably a mistake, they look like they would have done fine in the field; Late summer cut; Strong healthy plant; It looks good.
Year 2
Beautiful color; Bees like the flower; This is a very nice cultivar, I just get too much damage on the flowers to sell them - insects love these things.
Problems:
Year 1
We live in Zone 5 plants are listed Zone 6 - up, cut at variety of stages of development, only stage they would not wilt at outside markets was full bloom; We had a long fall and I am concerned about frost in a normal year (zone 5).
Year 2
Needs to have support; Weak plant; Time consuming to harvest; Did not overwinter
Trial Data
Year 1
| Plants flowering (%) | Plants dead at end of summer (%) | Yield (stems/plant) | Stem Length (inches) | Market Appreciation Rating - Wholesale (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Retail (1) | Market Appreciation Rating - Consumer (1) | Repeat Again Rating (1) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (1) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 77 | 12 | 5.6 | 31.2 | 4.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 4.4 | 4.4 |
| Range of Responses | 0-100 | 0-40 | 2-10 | 20-48 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4-5 | 4-5 |
(1) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Year 2
| Plants Surviving (%) | Yield (stems/plant) (1) | Stem Length (inches) (1) | Market Appreciation Rating (2) | Repeat Again Rating (2) | Ease of Cultivation Rating (2) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average | 48.0 | 9.5 | 27.2 | 1.7 | 2.5 | 2.5 |
| Range of Responses | 0-85 | 9.5 | 26-30 | 1-3 | 2-3 | 2-3 |
(1) Data shown are from those respondents who harvested stems. Some respondents may not have harvested stems because they were too short. Flowering stems may be longer next year after plants are established. See comments section for more details.
(2) 1 to 5 scale, with 5 being the best. Market ratings are based on sales to wholesalers, retailers, or final consumers direct.
Supplier
Terra Nova
P.O. Box 23938
Tigard, OR 97281-3938
800-215-9450 x305
503-263-3150 x305
FAX 503-263-3152
sales@terranovanurseries.com
Comments:
Year 1
Planted 21 in field with other 'Fan' series, lobelia outside, This would be my pick for flower of the year, wholesaler sold 10 stem bunches for $6.50; Two trialers reported on vase life: 8 and 10 days, respectively.
Year 2
One trialer reported the postharvest life as 10 days; This plant did not perform like it did last year. I had great expectations for 'Ruby Slippers'.