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Rubiaceae
Houstonia

not marked as a favorite taxon Houstonia caerulea Linnaeus. Common name: Quaker Ladies, Innocence, Common Bluet, Pissabed. Phenology: (Late Jan-) Apr-Jul; May-Aug. Habitat: Forests, woodlands, openings, lawns, a wide variety of disturbed sites. Distribution: Maine, Ontario, and Wisconsin south to s. Georgia, s. Alabama, w. Louisiana, and Oklahoma.

Glossary (beta!)

ID notes: The flowers of this species and Houstonia serpyllifolia are very similar; H. caerulea is a somewhat duller blue.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = Ar, G, Il, Mi, Mo3, NY, Pa, RAB, S, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WV, Terrell (1991), Terrell (1996); = Hedyotis caerulea (L.) Hook. — C, GW2; = Houstonia caerulea L. var. caerulea — F, Pease & Moore (1907); < Hedyotis caerulea (L.) Hook. — Rogers (1987); < Houstonia caerulea L. — K1, K4, NE. Basionym: Houstonia caerulea L. 1753

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
  • Great Plains: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Midwest: FAC (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
  • Northcentral & Northeast: FACU (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily ⓘ: 6

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image #1 of Houstonia caerulea© Jim Fowler | Original Image ⭷
image #2 of Houstonia caerulea© Steven Daniel, all rights reserved, uploaded by Steven Daniel source | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Houstonia caerulea© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #4 of Houstonia caerulea© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Houstonia caerulea© Erik Danielsen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Erik Danielsen source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Houstonia caerulea© Gage Barnes, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Gage Barnes source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #7 of Houstonia caerulea© Eric M Powell, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Eric M Powell source CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image #8 of Houstonia caerulea© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Houstonia caerulea© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #10 of Houstonia caerulea© Alan Cressler: Houstonia caerulea, Castilleja coccinea, and Packera serpenticola, Buck Creek Dunite Barrens, Nantahala National Forest, Clay County, North Carolina 2 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image #11 of Houstonia caerulea© Steven Daniel, all rights reserved, uploaded by Steven Daniel source | Original Image ⭷
image #12 of Houstonia caerulea© Summit Metro Parks, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Summit Metro Parks source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #13 of Houstonia caerulea© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
image #14 of Houstonia caerulea© Scott Ward, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Scott Ward source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
image #15 of Houstonia caerulea© Steven Lamonde, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Steven Lamonde source CC-BY | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Tufted, erect perennial of forests, woodlands, openings, lawns and a wide variety of disturbed sites.

Stems: Stems thin, sparingly branched, smooth.

Leaves: Leaves mostly basal in rosettes, petioled, spoon- to oblong-lance-shaped, less than 1/2 in. long, smooth to slightly hairy; stem leaves narrower and mostly sessile.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers solitary at stem tips or in upper axils, 1/4-3/4 in. wide, pale blue to violet with yellow center, consisting of a short corolla tube and 4 spreading, slightly pointed lobes.

Fruits: Fruit a 2-celled, green, slightly compressed and round capsule.

Comments:

Height: 2-6 in.

plant sale text: Bluets are a diminutive and well loved wildflower, found from the edges of high mountain paths all the way to the lawns and meadows of the piedmont and coast. The tiny blue flowers are a sure sign that summer is on its way. Clump several plants together in a well protected spot such as the edge of a woodland path or a niche in some small rocky spot of your garden. Bluets dislike competition, but they are tough and will reward you with clumps of rosettes covered in a blue haze if given the proper space.

bloom table text:

description: Tufted, erect perennial of forests, woodlands, openings, lawns and a wide variety of disturbed sites.

stems: Stems thin, sparingly branched, smooth.

leaves: Leaves mostly basal in rosettes, petioled, spoon- to oblong-lance-shaped, less than 1/2 in. long, smooth to slightly hairy; stem leaves narrower and mostly sessile.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers solitary at stem tips or in upper axils, 1/4-3/4 in. wide, pale blue to violet with yellow center, consisting of a short corolla tube and 4 spreading, slightly pointed lobes.

fruits: Fruit a 2-celled, green, slightly compressed and round capsule.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern North America