Lobelia is a large and varied genus of flowering plants in the Campanulaceae family, comprised of large to small annual, perennial and shrubby species, from a variety of habitats, in a range of colours. They occur naturally in the warm temperate regions of the world with a few species extending into cooler temperate regions.

Lobelia giberroa is a herbaceous, small tree which is the first of the Giant Lobelias one would find while hiking in the Mountains of Uganda. It is an afro-alpine species growing at altitudes of 2400 to 3000 meters. Growing widespread on the edges of evergreen montane forests throughout eastern Africa, they form almost rosettes of silvery leaves on a slender stem up to 5 meters tall, with a tall inflorescence spike covered with blue flowers that can add a further 3 meters to the height of the plant. Ethiopian traditional healers use its different parts to treat malaria, bacterial and fungal infections, and cancer.