Nearly every day for two years I have passed by a neighbor's driveway, where a brick planter box overflows with a very healthy looking plant that seems to regularly produce trumpet-shaped orange-red flowers. Since a herd of deer also passes by that driveway every day (probably several times a day) I had wondered what the plant was that did not seem to appeal to them. The leaves are thin, about three inches long and almost resemble a miniature oleander. The thin, trumpet-shaped flowers of course rule out oleander. I had not seen anything similar in nurseries and had given up any chance of identifying this mystery plant. The driveway is very long and steep, and I do not know those neighbors, but I thought I would ask them if I ever happened to see them. Then just last week, I stumbled upon Lobelia laxiflora at HOME DEPOT. There it was, plain as day, in their “Smart Planet” section with other low-water use plants. This was my neighbor's mystery plant! It is apparently known commonly as Mexican Lobelia. I bought three and have put them in the ground, where they are enjoying the recent rain and seem to be settling in well.

According to Sunset, Lobelia laxiflora is a perennial native to Mexico and Arizona, and recommended for Sunset Zones 7-9 and 12-24. This plant will grow to 3 feet high and can be 3-6 feet wide. I may have fallen in love: Lobelia laxiflora is known to withstand considerable aridity and “often persists in abandoned gardens.” It can take full sun or partial shade and needs little water. I will hold up my end of the bargain, providing little water and maybe even abandoning it now and then, as long as it holds up its end. While I cannot personally vouch for its deer-resistance, I am hopeful that my Lobelia will remain as unattractive to the varmints as my neighbor's has.