Lobelia siphilitica: glorious azure spires

After admiring photos of great blue lobelia (lobélie syphilitique), and botching my attempt to grow it from seed, I was excited to find it at the Toronto Botanical Garden. Even at the end of the season and a bit past its prime, it's gorgeous! Definitely worth further attempts to grow it in our own garden.

Lobelia siphilitica: seeds

Lobelia siphilitica, known in English as great blue lobelia and blue cardinal flower, and in French as lobélie syphilitique, is a perennial native to eastern and central Canada and the United States.

This is my first attempt at growing blue lobelia. I bought these seeds from the North American Native Plant Society at Seedy Saturday. At least, I hope they're seeds. They look and feel an awful lot like chaff to me, though since they cost only 50 cents I can't complain much. Maybe this is one of those plants with dust-like seeds? I've got them cold-moist stratifying in the fridge right now.