General 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.
Problems:
No serious insect or disease problems. Watch for aphids. Sap from plant stems may cause skin and/or eye irritation in some individuals.
Uses:
Beds or containers.
© Missouri Botanical
Garden, 2001-2009
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