Lobelia - Great Blue

This North American native is a terrific bee plant for an area that receives regular moisture (even flooding) and part shade. It will also do fine in regular garden soil and part shade. It can spread and re-seed quite exuberantly when it's happy. The plant may flower its first year if started early enough, but I've found that it grows slowly in its first season. Not a long-lived perennial, but the volunteers will make up for that. I put mine next to a clump of monarda and let them duke it out.

Lobelia siphilitica

Hardiness zone: 4-9

Bloom type: Perennial