Houstonia tenuifolia Nuttall. Common name: Diffuse-branched Bluet. Phenology: Apr-Jul; Jul-Oct. Habitat: Usually in dry woodlands, often rocky (especially mafic rocks) or sandy. Distribution: This species is centered in the Southern Appalachians and the Ozarks, extending into provinces adjacent to both areas of concentration, ranging overall from PA west to MO and OK, south to SC, GA, and TX; disjunct in Panhandle FL.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Synonymy ⓘ: = F, G, Il, RAB, S, Va, W, WV, Terrell (1959); = Hedyotis nuttalliana Fosberg — C; = Houstonia longifolia Gaertn. — Terrell (1996); = Houstonia longifolia Gaertn. var. tenuifolia (Nutt.) Wood; < Hedyotis longifolia (Gaertn.) Hook. — Rogers (1987); < Houstonia longifolia Gaertn. — Ar, K4, Mo3, Pa, Tn, WH3. Basionym: Houstonia tenuifolia Nutt. 1818
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Heliophily ⓘ: 7
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Slender, erect to ascending perennial found in dry, often rocky (especially mafic rocks) or sandy woodlands.
Stems: Stems thin, weakly 4-angled and obscurely winged, widely branched, hairy on angles.
Leaves: Basal and lower leaves petiolate, oval, to 3/4 in. long; upper stem leaves linear, bluntly pointed, with 1 prominent vein.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers on thin stalks in open clusters terminating branches; less than 1/4 in. long; purple to white; funnel-shaped with 4 spreading, triangular-tipped corolla lobes.
Fruits: Fruit a green, rounded and compressed capsule.
Comments:
Height: 6-12 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Slender, erect to ascending perennial found in dry, often rocky (especially mafic rocks) or sandy woodlands.
stems: Stems thin, weakly 4-angled and obscurely winged, widely branched, hairy on angles.
leaves: Basal and lower leaves petiolate, oval, to 3/4 in. long; upper stem leaves linear, bluntly pointed, with 1 prominent vein.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers on thin stalks in open clusters terminating branches; less than 1/4 in. long; purple to white; funnel-shaped with 4 spreading, triangular-tipped corolla lobes.
fruits: Fruit a green, rounded and compressed capsule.
comments:
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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