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Houstonia purpurea Linnaeus. Summer Bluet, Mountain Bluet. Phen: May-Jul; Jul-Aug. Hab: Moist and dry woodlands and forests, thinner soils around rock outcrops, and in a variety of disturbed sites, such as paths, old roads, and roadbanks. Dist: DE, MD, and s. PA west to s. OH, s. IL, and sw. MO south to SC, sw. GA, Panhandle FL, MS, s. LA, e. TX, and e. OK.

ID notes: Plants growing in high elevation and exposed sites are sometimes somewhat dwarfed, and in that respect only, superficially resemble H. montana.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = F, Mi, S, Tat; = Hedyotis purpurea (L.) Torr. & A.Gray var. purpurea; = Houstonia purpurea L. var. purpurea – Ar, G, K1, K3, K4, NY, Pa, Tn, Va, WV, Terrell (1959), Terrell (1991), Terrell (1996); < Hedyotis purpurea (L.) Torr. & A.Gray – C, Rogers (1987); < Houstonia purpurea L. – Fl5, Il, RAB, Tx, W, WH3

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Heliophily ⓘ: 5

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image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Jim Fowler | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Bruce A. Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Erect perennial of moist and dry woodlands and forests, road banks, thinner soils around rock outcrops and a variety of disturbed sites.

Stems: Stems 4-angled and narrowly winged, often furry.

Leaves: Leaves opposite (basal rosette barely evident at flowering), oval to lance-shaped, sessile, 1/2-1 1/2 in. long, with 3-7 noticeable veins and hairy at least along the veins.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers in small branching clusters at stem top or from upper axils; pale purple to white; to 1/4 in. long; funnel-shaped with 4 spreading, pointed corolla lobes.

Fruits: Fruit a rounded, slightly compressed capsule.

Comments:

Height: 4-12 in.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect perennial of moist and dry woodlands and forests, road banks, thinner soils around rock outcrops and a variety of disturbed sites.

stems: Stems 4-angled and narrowly winged, often furry.

leaves: Leaves opposite (basal rosette barely evident at flowering), oval to lance-shaped, sessile, 1/2-1 1/2 in. long, with 3-7 noticeable veins and hairy at least along the veins.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers in small branching clusters at stem top or from upper axils; pale purple to white; to 1/4 in. long; funnel-shaped with 4 spreading, pointed corolla lobes.

fruits: Fruit a rounded, slightly compressed capsule.

comments:

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range: eastern United States

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