Early-flowering Borage Trachystemon orientalis
Other Common Name(s):
- Description
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Early-flowering Borage is a herbaceous perennial that is low maintenance with showy flowers as well as tolerant to erosion, drought, and heavy shade. It can grow in full sun, but for the best performance, shade is the answer.Trachystemon comes from the Greek language, trachys translating to rough and stemon to stamen. Orientalis indicates that the origin is eastern or from the orient. It is native to Turkey, and Bulgaria.
Flowers appear in early spring on leafless stems up to 10" tall. Once the flowers have bloomed, the 10-12" showy, overlapping, mounding, heart-shaped leaves will fill in, creating a blanket of foliage that will deter weeds from taking over your garden. An excellent ground cover and requires little to no care except to keep it in its place.
Spreading by rhizomes, it will naturalize in your garden. This will also cause this plant to be somewhat weedy. It may be best used in a shady naturalized area.
Insects, Disease, and Other Plant Problems: No significant problems.
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Juniper Level Botanic Gardens: Part Sun-Part Shade Gardens
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Trachystemon
- Species:
- orientalis
- Family:
- Boraginaceae
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Division
- Root Cutting
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Bulgaria to Caucasus
- Play Value:
- Attractive Flowers
- Particularly Resistant To (Insects/Diseases/Other Problems):
- erosion, drought, heavy shade
- Edibility:
- The flowers, stems, rhizomes and young leaves can all be prepared and eaten.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 1 ft. 0 in. - 1 ft. 6 in.
- Width: 1 ft. 6 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Ground Cover
- Perennial
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Habit/Form:
- Creeping
- Mounding
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Medium
- Maintenance:
- Low
- Texture:
- Coarse
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 12 inches-3 feet
- NC Region:
- Coastal
- Mountains
- Piedmont
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone:
- 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b
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Fruit:
- Fruit Type:
- Schizocarp
- Fruit Description:
- Dry schizocarp that splits open in sections, each containing seeds
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Blue
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Cyme
- Panicle
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Spring
- Flower Shape:
- Star
- Tubular
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The blue/purple flowers have a white throat. They bloom as the foliage is beginning to become developed. Each small flower has a tubular corolla.
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Leaves:
- Woody Plant Leaf Characteristics:
- Deciduous
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Value To Gardener:
- Showy
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Other/more complex
- Leaf Shape:
- Cordate
- Leaf Margin:
- Entire
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- > 6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- The basal leaves are large, up to 12' long. Bristly hairs are present. The leaves overlap each other to form a dense groundcover.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Pink
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Description:
- The stems that will stand 18" tall are branched and hairy. They have a pink tint.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Container
- Naturalized Area
- Patio
- Pond
- Pool/Hardscape
- Slope/Bank
- Walkways
- Woodland
- Landscape Theme:
- Drought Tolerant Garden
- Shade Garden
- Design Feature:
- Mass Planting
- Small groups
- Resistance To Challenges:
- Drought
- Dry Soil
- Erosion
- Heavy Shade
- Problems:
- Weedy
