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Houstonia serpyllifolia Michaux. Appalachian Bluet, Thyme-leaf Bluet. Phen: (Mar-) May-Jul. Hab: Streambanks, grassy balds, moist forests, seepy rock outcrops, spray cliffs, and moist disturbed areas. Dist: A Southern and Central Appalachian endemic: PA south to nw. SC and ne. GA.

ID notes: The flowers are very similar to, but usually a brighter blue than, the more widespread H. caerulea.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Synonymy ⓘ: = F, G, K1, K3, K4, Pa, RAB, S, Tn, Va, W, WV, Terrell (1991), Terrell (1996); = Hedyotis michauxii Fosberg – C, GW2, Rogers (1987)

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC

Heliophily ⓘ: 7

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image of plant© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Alan Cressler: Houstonia serpyllifolia, Hambidge Center, Rabun County, Georgia by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
image of plant© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

Intro: Prostrate, mat-forming perennial of stream banks, grassy balds, moist forests, seepy rock outcrops, spray cliffs and moist disturbed areas.

Stems: Stems very slender, diffusely branched, creeping and rooting at nodes, smooth.

Leaves: Leaves opposite, short petiolate, oval to round, to 1/4 in. long.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers solitary on upright, threadlike stalks; blue with yellow-white center, up to 1/2 in. wide with short corolla tube and 4 spreading, bluntly pointed lobes.

Fruits: Fruit tiny green, flattened and 2-sectioned capsule.

Comments: A southern and central Appalachian endemic.

Height: 4-7 in.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Prostrate, mat-forming perennial of stream banks, grassy balds, moist forests, seepy rock outcrops, spray cliffs and moist disturbed areas.

stems: Stems very slender, diffusely branched, creeping and rooting at nodes, smooth.

leaves: Leaves opposite, short petiolate, oval to round, to 1/4 in. long.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers solitary on upright, threadlike stalks; blue with yellow-white center, up to 1/2 in. wide with short corolla tube and 4 spreading, bluntly pointed lobes.

fruits: Fruit tiny green, flattened and 2-sectioned capsule.

comments: A southern and central Appalachian endemic.

cultural notes:

germination code:

native range:

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