Oxypetalum coeruleum
| Oxypetalum coeruleum | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Gentianales |
| Family: | Apocynaceae |
| Genus: | Oxypetalum |
| Species: | O. coeruleum |
| Binomial name | |
| Oxypetalum coeruleum (D. Don ex Sweet) Decne. | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
| |
Oxypetalum coeruleum is a species of flowering plant, native to South America from southern Brazil to Uruguay. The synonymous name Tweedia caerulea is also used. Growing to 100 cm (39 in) long,[2] it is a straggling evergreen perennial with heart shaped, gray-green, downy leaves. It is grown for its clear pale blue, star-shaped flowers, which are long lasting and cut well. The summer flowers age to purple and are followed by 30 cm (12 in) long, boat-shaped seed pods. The seeds have downy parachute-like tufts (cypsela).
The cultivar 'Alba' has white flowers, while 'Rosea' has pink flowers.
Oxypetalum coeruleum requires full sun in a well-drained soil that is dry. Propagation is via seed.[3] With a minimum temperature range of 3–5 °C (37–41 °F), it can be grown outdoors in a frost-free, sheltered environment. Alternatively it can be grown as an annual.[2]
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[4]
References
- ↑ The Plant List
- 1 2 RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
- ↑ Botanica's Organic Gardening, Random House Publishing, Sydney, 2002, ISBN 1-74051-426-2
- ↑ "RHS Plant Selector - Tweedia caerulea". Retrieved 7 June 2013.