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: ME, ON, and WI south to s. GA, s. AL, w. LA, and OK.
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, 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, K3, K4, NE
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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© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷
© Jim Fowler | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© 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 ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
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