Do you mean the annual lobelia or the larger, red perennial? I recommend the annual lobelia with the tiny blue or white blooms for hanging baskets, especially in the shade. The annual type is a bedding plant is not sold bare root as the young plants need soil around the roots. I also am not familiar with bare root perennial lobelia at this time of year. Bare root plants are usually sold in the winter. The general rule is to plant at the same level the plant was growing before, and use potting soil and a slow release plant food like Osmocote in hanging baskets. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti