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Common Name: laurentia
Type: Herbaceous perennial
Family: Campanulaceae
Zone: 10 to 11
Native Range: Australia
Height: 0.5 to 1 feet
Spread: 0.75 to 1 feet
Bloom Time: June to To frost
Bloom Color:
Bloom Description: Light blue to purple blue
Sun: Full sun
Water: Medium
Maintenance: Medium
Flowers: Showy Flowers
Uses: Suitable as Annual
Culture
Winter hardy to USDA Zone 10. In St. Louis, plants are grown as annuals. Start plant seed indoors about 10-12 weeks before last spring frost date. Plant outdoors after last frost date. Grow in average, medium moisture, well-drained soils in full sun. Cuttings for special plants may be taken indoors in late summer for overwintering. Containers may also be overwintered by bringing them indoors before first fall frost and placing same in a cool but sunny spot with reduced watering.
Noteworthy Characteristics
Blue stars (also known as star flowers, rock isotomes or laurentias) are native to frost-free areas of Australia. This is a woody-based perennial that grows as an upright mound of branched stems to 6-12” tall. It may be grown outdoors year-round only in frost free areas. In St. Louis, they are typically grown as annuals. Features light blue to purple blue, star-shaped flowers (to 1.5” diameter). Flowers bloom from summer to fall. Long, deeply-dissected leaves (to 5” long). Synonymous with and sometimes marketed as either Solenopsis axillaris or Laurentia axillaris.
Plant of Merit
Native to frost-free areas of Australia, this plant is grown in St. Louis as an annual. Star-shaped, light blue to purple-blue flowers bloom continuously from summer to fall. Each plant typically forms a compact, upright mound to 6–12 inches tall. Deeply-dissected leaves. Excellent for rock gardens, edging or containers. May self-seed in optimum conditions.
Problems
No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for aphids. Sap from plant stems may cause skin and/or eye irritation in some individuals.
Garden Uses
Beds or containers.