bluets
Houstonia caerulea
USDA zones3 to 9
SunHandles full sun to partial shade
WaterHandles dry to moist soil
Size3 to 6 inches tall3 to 6 inches wide
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Habit
- Herb
- Bloom season
- Spring, summer
- Bloom color
- Blue
- Foliage color
- Green
- Soil types
- Sand, loam
- Soil pH
- Acid, neutral
Garden uses
Attracts
Notes
Bluets (Houstonia caerulea) is a perennial for rock gardens, pollinator gardens, and ground cover. It is hardy to USDA zone 3, or down to -40°F (-40°C). This plant likes full sun to part shade and dry to moist, sandy or loamy soil. Tiny pale blue flowers with yellow centers grow above basal rosettes of spatula-shaped leaves. Bluets do well among grasses in lawns and fields, so wait to mow until they have set seed. Deer and rabbits tend to pass it by.
Pairs well with Nodding onion, Standing Ovation little bluestem, and Sedge.
Native range
AL, AR, CT, DC, and 28 more places. See all 32
AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IL, IN, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MO, MS, NC, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV; NB, NS, ON, and QC.