lobelia
noun
lo·be·lia
lō-ˈbēl-yə 
-ˈbē-lē-ə
-ˈbē-lē-ə
1
: any of a genus (Lobelia of the family Campanulaceae, the bellflower family) of widely cultivated plants having terminal clusters of showy lipped flowers
2
: the leaves and tops of Indian tobacco
Examples of lobelia in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In frost-free areas (zones 10-11) lobelia can be grown as a winter-to-spring annual.
—
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
Shade-loving plants include anthurium, astilbe, begonia, bleeding heart, bromeliad, caladiums, coleus, cranesbill, ferns, foxglove, hellebore, hostas, impatiens, Lily of the Valley, Liriope, lobelia, lungwort, moneywort, periwinkle, spiderwort, trillium, and viola.
—Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
Coming around to lobelia, its flowers are a royal blue seldom seen in the botanical world.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 24 May 2025
Marigolds, begonias, impatiens, and lobelia tend to work well.
—Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 May 2025
Low-growing shrubs, tall lobelias, and bushy grasses lined our path, and Abdallah pointed to large, hooved footprints in the dirt, which belonged to Cape Buffalo.
—Mary Robnett, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2025
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Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
Shade-loving plants include anthurium, astilbe, begonia, bleeding heart, bromeliad, caladiums, coleus, cranesbill, ferns, foxglove, hellebore, hostas, impatiens, Lily of the Valley, Liriope, lobelia, lungwort, moneywort, periwinkle, spiderwort, trillium, and viola.
—Clarence Schmidt, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Aug. 2025
Coming around to lobelia, its flowers are a royal blue seldom seen in the botanical world.
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 24 May 2025
Marigolds, begonias, impatiens, and lobelia tend to work well.
—Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 May 2025
Low-growing shrubs, tall lobelias, and bushy grasses lined our path, and Abdallah pointed to large, hooved footprints in the dirt, which belonged to Cape Buffalo.
—Mary Robnett, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lobelia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lobelia. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lobelia
noun
lo·be·lia
lō-ˈbēl-yə
: any of a genus of widely distributed herbs (as the cardinal flower) often grown for their clusters of showy flowers
Medical Definition
lobelia
noun
lo·be·lia
lō-ˈbēl-yə
-ˈbē-lē-ə
-ˈbē-lē-ə
1
capitalized
: any of a genus (Lobelia of the family Lobeliaceae, the lobelia family) of widely distributed herbaceous plants (as Indian tobacco)
2
: the leaves and tops of Indian tobacco used especially formerly as an expectorant and antispasmodic
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