General Landscape Uses:
Showy groundcover.
Availability:
Grown by enthusiasts.
Description: Biennial or perennial groundcover 3-6 inches tall with stems creeping to 2 feet long. Elliptic leaves 1-3 inches long and small blue or occasionally white flowers.
Dimensions: Typically 3-6 inches in height, forming a mat up to 2 feet wide.
Range:
Southeastern United States (Florida, Georgia) south to Miami-Dade and Collier counties.
Map of select IRC data from peninsular Florida.
Map of suggested ZIP codes from South Florida north to southern Brevard, Osceola, Polk, and Pasco counties.
Habitats: Flatwoods, floodplains, swamps.
Soils: Moist to wet, moderately well-drained to poorly-drained organic or sandy soils, often with acid pH.
Salt Water Tolerance: Low; does not tolerate long-term flooding by salt or brackish water.
Salt Wind Tolerance: Low; salt wind may burn the leaves.
Drought Tolerance: Moderate; generally requires moist soils, but tolerant of short periods of drought once established.
Light Requirements: Full sun to light shade.
Flower Color: Blue.
Flower Characteristics: Showy.
Flowering Season: Spring to fall.
Wildlife and Ecology: Attracts native bees and other beneficial insects. Larval host for Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes asterius) butterfly.
References: Hall (
2020)
Comments: We have been adding data for this species for central and northern Florida and welcome any feedback or review. If you would like to contribute information or images, please contact George Gann via the IRC staff page. See also the Florida Wildflower Foundation's
Flower Friday page.
