Bluet is a herbaceous perennial wildflower that may grow to a height of 6 inches. The leaves are opposite with a smooth margin. The leaves that originate at the base of the stem are large, while the two leaves on the stem are small. Blue flowers with yellow centers first mature in mid-spring and continue into mid-summer. This plant is showy but needs to be planted with little competition, such as lawns, path edges, or in bare areas. The spring rosettes this plant reduces can be transplanted. This plant will bloom for an approximate period of three weeks in late spring with two types of flowers, the first having long stamens and a short style and the other having a short stamen and a long style. Growing from seed will provide seedlings in the plants first year, and flowers in the second year. Most of the plants growth will occur during the spring months. This lovely, delicate, flowering plant is often found in striking patches of light blue. Houstonia species have sometimes been placed in the genus Hedyotis . Serves as a host plant for the larvae of the Spotted thyri ( Thyris maculata ) moth. Fire Risk: This plant has a low flammability rating. Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: No serious disease or insect issues.
Curated pairwise relationships between this plant and others in the library — who feeds
whom, who competes, who confuses the pests. Green reads as a good pairing, red as one to avoid.
No curated interactions recorded for this species yet.
Also noted by NC State
Related species the NC State Plant Toolbox flags for this plant — look-alikes to tell
apart, and plants that play a similar role in a planting. Ones we carry in the library are linked.
Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day) | Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day) | Partial Shade (Direct sunlight only part of the day, 2-6 hours)
Soil texture
High Organic Matter; Loam (Silt); Sand; Shallow Rocky
Soil pH
Acid (<6.0); Neutral (6.0-8.0)
Soil drainage
Good Drainage | Moist | Occasionally Dry
Available space
Less than 12 inches
NC region
Coastal; Mountains; Piedmont
Mature size
Height: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in. | Width: 0 ft. 3 in. - 0 ft. 6 in.
Growth rate
Medium
Maintenance
Low
Canopy layer
5 - Groundcover (<1 ft)
Form & Appearance
Habit / form
Clumping; Erect; Multi-stemmed
Texture
Fine
Foliage
Deciduous
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf arrangement
Opposite; Rosulate
Leaf shape
Spatulate
Leaf margin
Entire
Leaf feel
Smooth
Leaf size
< 1 inch long, < 1 inch wide
Hairs present
No
Leaf detail
Leaves on the flower stem (opposite) are much smaller than those at the base (rosulate).
Flower color
Blue; Gold/Yellow; White
Flower value
Showy
Flower form
Head; Solitary
Flower shape
Star; Tubular
Flower size
< 1 inch
Flower detail
Flower stems are unbranched. Flowers are blue and have a yellow center with four stamens attached to the corolla tube. Flowers bloom February-July.
Bloom time
Spring; Summer
Fruit detail
Fruits are available April-August.
Stem color
Gray/Silver
Stem detail
Unbranched stems will produce one to two flowers.
Wildlife & Ecology
Native status
Native
Origin
Eastern and Canada and U.S.A.
Distribution
Eastern US
Wildlife value
Flowers are attractive to bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. It serves as a host plant for the caterpillars for the moth Thyris maculata.