Lobelia patula is a soft perennial that spreads from fleshy stems and grows to 35 cm in height. The alternate leaves are ovate and shallowly toothed or lobed, tapering at the base. They may be finely hairy or not. The flowers are blue to white.

The distribution is coastal in the southern Cape and Eastern Cape to Humansdorp and in the Langkloof.  The plant is commonly found in shady, moist places (Bond and Goldblatt, 1984; iSpot).