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| Category: Perennial |
| Family: Campanulaceae (Bellflowers) |
| Origin: Mediterranean (Europe) |
| Evergreen: Yes |
| Flower Color: Blue Violet |
| Bloomtime: Spring/Fall |
| Fragrant Flowers: Yes |
| Height: 2-3 feet |
| Width: 2-3 feet |
| Exposure: Full Sun |
| Irrigation (H2O Info): Medium Water Needs |
| Winter Hardiness: 20-25° F |
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Trachelium caeruleum (Blue Throatwort) - An herbaceous evergreen perennial that grows as a clump to 2 to 3 feet tall and as wide with dark green to reddish-bronze lance shaped leaves that have toothed margins. From spring and summer appear above the foliage 4 to 5 inch wide flattened dome-shaped clusters of 1/2 inch wide star-shaped blue-violet flowers. The flowers are slightly fragrant, somewhat resembling the scent of a lilac. A prolonged bloom appearance through fall can be had by deadheading spent flowers and the plant stays more upright with some support. Plant in full to part sun in most any well-drained soil, actually preferring the alkaline soils common to many western gardens, and give regular irrigation. Trachelium caeruleum remains evergreen in our climate but can be treated more as a semi-hardy deciduous perennial elsewhere, possibly tolerating temperatures as low as 0° F or use as a long blooming annual in even colder climates. It is fairly pest free while also attracting bird and butterflies to the garden. Cut back hard in late winter to keep plant looking its tidiest. It is a fantastic filler plant and great for cut flower use, though some people have a slight allergenic reaction to the flowers, which reportedly can cause a rash. Blue Throatwort is native to areas along the western Mediterranean Sea, in North African (Algeria, Morocco) and Europe (Spain, Italy) and north into Portugal. The name for the genus is derived from the Greek word 'trachelos' meaning "a neck" from its reputed use in the treatment of ailments of the throat, which also corresponds to its common name Throatwort. The specific epithet given to this plant by Linnaeus in 1753 comes from the Latin word 'caerule' which means "blue". This plant is also commonly called the Blue Lace Flower or Umbrella Flower. We have grown this plant at the nursery since 1992.
The information on this page is based on research conducted about this plant in the San Marcos Growers library, from online sources, and from observations made of the crops growing in our nursery, plants in the nursery's garden and those in other gardens where we may have observed it. We also have incorporated comments received from others and welcome getting feedback from those who may have additional information, particularly if this information includes cultural information that would aid others in growing Trachelium caeruleum. |
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