Houstonia caerulea
Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Hedyotis caerulea
- Houstonia caerulea var. faxonorum
- Phonetic Spelling
- hoos-TOH-nee-uh see-ROO-lee-uh
- Description
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Bluet is a herbaceous perennial wildflower that may grow to a height of 6 inches. The leaves are opposite with a smooth margin. The leaves that originate at the base of the stem are large, while the two leaves on the stem are small.
Blue flowers with yellow centers first mature in mid-spring and continue into mid-summer. This plant is showy but needs to be planted with little competition, such as lawns, path edges, or in bare areas. The spring rosettes this plant reduces can be transplanted.
This plant will bloom for an approximate period of three weeks in late spring with two types of flowers, the first having long stamens and a short style and the other having a short stamen and a long style.
Growing from seed will provide seedlings in the plants first year, and flowers in the second year. Most of the plants growth will occur during the spring months.
This lovely, delicate, flowering plant is often found in striking patches of light blue. Houstonia species have sometimes been placed in the genus Hedyotis.
Serves as a host plant for the larvae of the Spotted thyri (Thyris maculata) moth.
Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious disease or insect issues.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Flower Bonanza Garden
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Houstonia
- Species:
- caerulea
- Family:
- Rubiaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Wildflower garden
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Eastern and Canada and U.S.A.
- Distribution:
- Eastern US
- Fire Risk Rating:
- low flammability
- Wildlife Value:
- Flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. It serves as a host plant for the caterpillars for the moth Thyris maculata.
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Attracts Pollinators
- Wildlife Larval Host
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- fire in the landscape.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Clumping
- Erect
- Multi-stemmed
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Fine
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Shallow Rocky
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 3a, 3b, 4a, 4b, 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Fruit Description:
- Fruits are available April-August.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Gold/Yellow
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Head
- Solitary
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- Flower stems are unbranched. Flowers are blue and have a yellow center with four stamens attached to the corolla tube. Flowers bloom February-July.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Smooth
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Opposite
- Rosulate
- Leaf Shape:
- Spatulate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- No
- Leaf Length:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Width:
- < 1 inch
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves on the flower stem (opposite) are much smaller than those at the base (rosulate).
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Gray/Silver
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Square
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Description:
- Unbranched stems will produce one to two flowers.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Coastal
- Lawn
- Meadow
- Naturalized Area
- Rock Wall
- Small Space
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Butterfly Garden
- Cottage Garden
- Native Garden
- Pollinator Garden
- Rock Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Butterflies
- Pollinators
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Deer
- Fire
- Rabbits
