Forked Bluecurls Trichostema dichotomum

Blue Curls are annual, native wild flowers that can be found in dry, open, sandy woodlands and around rock outcrops. Its native habitat runs from southern Maine south to Florida, west to Texas and north to Missouri and Michigan.

This plant has curled stamens that help make this plant showy. Its turn tan in the fall, making it a nice addition in dried arrangements. 

The flowers are in the form of a panicle of cymes, as well as several flowers at the tips of the branches.  Each cyme and each individual, single flower is enfolded by a pair of leaves.  As you ascend the cyme, the size of the flowers decrease.  Each cyme will contain three to seven flowers.  A healthy plant can produce hundreds of cymes, with resulting numerous seeds.  These seeds make the plant a self-seeder, which may cause a maintenance issue to keep the plant under control.  Opening in the early morning, the flowers will drop their petals and stamens by mid-day.  The lowest petal is somewhat cupped and may be shaded in white with some dark spots.   The other 4 petals are shorter, rounded and minimally pointed, and are typically all the same color.  

Insects, Disease, and Other Plant Problems:  No issues noted.  This self-seeding plant can require some effort to keep under control.