Lobelia is a genus of flowering plants in the Campanulaceae family comprising 415 species, of which 69 are indigenous to South Africa.

Lobelia polyphylla or Tupa as it is commonly known in Chile is a extremely beautiful flowering shrub that grows from 70cm to 120cm in height. It is a semi-woody perennial with upright, branching stems ending in a raceme with supremely showy, burgundy red, funnel shaped flowers above narrow leaves. It grows well in rich, very well drained, rocky soil in a sunny spot. This plant has a long history of being used medicinally. It is usually found growing in coastal areas at 0 500m and at higher altitudes on coastal mountains from 500 – 2000m.