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Out of the five Lobelias awarded the AGM medal, one is purple with the remaining four being predominantly blue in colour.

While the 54 entries were originally propagated from cuttings or seeds, they were supplied to the RHS as plug plants for the trials. The different cultivars were judged in a hanging basket environment and in terracotta pots using a non-peat compost, being watered daily and fed at regularly with a liquid feed. The plants being assessed were moved outdoors in May and were judged every two weeks by the RHS Floral Trials Assessment Panel.

• Lobelia erinus 'Techno Heat Trailing Light Blue Improved' = ‘Lobstrahob’ PBR (Techno Heat Series)
• Lobelia erinus 'Waterfall Blue' = ‘Balobwablu’ (Waterfall Series)
• Lobelia erinus 'Purple Star' = ‘Wespurstar’ PBR (Star Series)
• Lobelia erinus 'Waterfall Deep Blue with Eye' (Waterfall Series)
• Lobelia erinus 'Waterfall Light Blue with Eye' (Waterfall Series)

“Lobelias have always been very popular plants for hanging baskets and bedding displays so we felt that gardeners would appreciate if the RHS looked more carefully at which ones would perform best,” says Jim Gardiner, RHS Director of Horticulture. “The trials at RHS Garden Wisley attracted a lot of attention and it was just fantastic to see.”

Jim Gardiner from the RHS says that Lobelias can be grown in the sun or partial shade, but watering is critical as they don't like dry roots. Feeding with a high-potash (high Potassium) liquid feed will also help to promote flowering.