Can't tell for sure, but I've grown calibrachoa with lobelia in hanging baskets. If anything, the cali is more heat tolerant of the two. Have grown several of the Callie? series and like them. Our summer, however, isn't a warm as yours.

If they get out of hand, try some judicious trimming -- just a few branches here and there. Keeping cuts to less than 1/3 shouldn't be too drastic.

I tried the million bells in the ground last summer and they were ok...I liked them better in pots. Have you ever tried lobelias before? I love them, but they are known not to take the heat well. And in the summer they might not do well at all with a lot of sun in your area. I grow the 'Moon' series of lobelias and they last all summer for me in about 4 hrs of morning sun. I also mulch them and water them deeply. We get some hot 90 plus temps, but they don't last as long as your hot summers do.

Kat

To Kat:

It's the first time that I planted the Lobelias, I think I got Lobelia Riviera blue moon, they do pretty well so far but i knew about their heat intolerance and planted some Portulacas between them so I got some color in case the Lobelias let me down. Mine get about a total of 7 hours sun with a break of about 3 hours between 11am - 2pm.
I also got some in a moss hanging basket with petunias which only get abut 4 hours of sun per day and I already got to water them at least once a day to make them look happy..

Manu

Good idea with the portulacas. I've seen them in pots and in the ground and they did well in both places. The petunias in your basket will cover any bare spots that the lobelias might leave.
Enjoy your plantings!

Kat

My neighbor down the street had some purple million bells by her mailbox in the ground and they returned for three winters in a row and spread all over that bed before she got tired of them and pulled them up! I was beyond surprised, but it's the truth. (I know she uses alot of Miracle Grow)

Donnabaskets, I planted some wave petunias 5 yrs ago in 2 of my gardens, and I haven't had to replant since then, they just reseeded every year. I get different colors too. Thing is, you can't depend on getting just the colors you first planted. But I like them anyways.

Kat

I should have been more clear. My neighbor's million bells never died back all the way to the ground! They just sat there for the winter and then continued to spread when spring came.

I've never had that happen, but then again, you're in a warmer climate. Wish I was. :(

Kat

Million Bells come back for me, too. They do very well in the ground for me.

Ok...rub it in. LOL!! You all have a warmer climate than I do. But there are good points of having long cold winters. I don't know what they are yet, but when I do I'll let you all know what you're missing! :)

Kat

Long, cold winters--the good points:

At least four months or more of no weeding, watering, staking, fertilizing, deadheading, sweating, mosquitoes, mulching etc etc.

No fire ants or kudzu.

The cold killing off lots of insect pests and plant diseases.

Pleasant summer days to enjoy the outdoors in a bearable temperature.

And what would you add to this list?

Ginny, I have at least 7 full months of not having to do those things you mentioned, and that's just too long for me. Tonight we have a frost warning. :( Oh, and the heat is still kicking in. $$$

Kat

Seven months! Wow, I didn't think it was that cold in southeast Wisconsin. I guess there is a happy medium in climate. Anyway, I hope you have a good gardening season, Kat, and if it's any consolation, million bells don't winter over in Mass. either.

But I just came back from a garden tour down south and as pretty as it is, it's alarming not to be able to look up as you walk around a garden because there are so many fire ant mounds. Wish they'd find some effective control for these, which have become such a problem in so many beautful southern gardens.

Thanks Ginny. I'm sure once that Spring weather starts to get warm, I'll be a happy camper again. I've heard about those fire ants. I guess we all have pros and cons where we live.

Kat