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
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
This ground-hugging lobelia is usually grown as an annual in cool spring weather.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 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
Fifty varieties of plants are available for purchase, including four milkweed varieties, several grasses, native purple coneflower, cardinal flower, great blue lobelia, meadow blazing star, New England aster, prairie smoke, wild columbine and wild lupine.
—Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024
Examples of plants that can be located in full sun now but in the half-day sun later would include petunia, dianthus, lobelia, and columbine (Aquiegia spp.)
2.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2024
Other native plant candidates for winter sowing, Schaller said, include bee balm, coneflower, goldenrod, blazing star, phlox and lobelia.
—Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2024
Seedlings are the most vulnerable, but popular plants like lobelia, bougainvillea and some ficus are especially sensitive to cold, too.
—Sam Schulz, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Jan. 2024
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 24 May 2025
Marigolds, begonias, impatiens, and lobelia tend to work well.
—Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 May 2025
This ground-hugging lobelia is usually grown as an annual in cool spring weather.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 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
Fifty varieties of plants are available for purchase, including four milkweed varieties, several grasses, native purple coneflower, cardinal flower, great blue lobelia, meadow blazing star, New England aster, prairie smoke, wild columbine and wild lupine.
—Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024
Examples of plants that can be located in full sun now but in the half-day sun later would include petunia, dianthus, lobelia, and columbine (Aquiegia spp.)
2.
—Joshua Siskin, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2024
Other native plant candidates for winter sowing, Schaller said, include bee balm, coneflower, goldenrod, blazing star, phlox and lobelia.
—Susan Degrane, Chicago Tribune, 31 Jan. 2024
Seedlings are the most vulnerable, but popular plants like lobelia, bougainvillea and some ficus are especially sensitive to cold, too.
—Sam Schulz, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Jan. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Lobelia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lobelia. Accessed 11 Jul. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share