Speaking of blue flowers, while its showier sibling, cardinal flower, is finishing up, downy lobelia (Lobelia puberula) modestly opens up gorgeous blue flowers.

This perennial is every bit as attractive and dependable as its relatives (it also is related to the great blue lobelia, L. siphilitica, which blooms a full month earlier) and should be used more often in fall garden designs. It is naturally found in open meadows and woodland edges where it is enjoyed by bees and small butterflies such as skippers. . . . #nativeplants #nativeplantsofgeorgia #gardening #pollinatorplants #pollinatorgardening #nativehabitat #wildlifegardening #plants #georgia