Since the aristocratic porterweed is a low - growing native of South Florida that produces little blue bloom almost all year , it is a good option for lure pollinator . It ’s also an excellent ground cover . naughty porterweed is a short , circularize shrub with a finespun visual aspect . However , some may be surprised that this natural plant of the tropical southeast is being raise for the finest of gardens . For a long meter , it was consider as a weed . The leaves are appealing because they are crinkled and toothed . It is a herbaceous perennial that develops to be woody towards the stem of the stem after about a year .
Growing The Blue Porterweed
Before the stems droop and touch on the ground , works grow to be approximately 4 - feet marvelous by 6 - feet full . Blue porterweed blooms are roughly a quarter - inch in diameter . They flower towards the ends of the stems . Porterweed is a adorable addition to any sunny environment with its rich , glowering green parting and square , green stalks . Because Porterweed flower profusely and pull in a variety of butterflies . They are all draw in to its pleasant-tasting ambrosia . Garden cultivar with violet , blue , or coral flowers are therefore more popular .
Here are some brief facts about the democratic aesthetic works :
The plant is unaffected by verbatim sun or drouth . They necessitate wet soil when first plant , but once establish , they can withstand drought pretty well . They may also withstand saline solution environments . implant them 2.5 to 3 feet asunder if you ’re using them as a groundcover ( 1 m. ) . They will sprawl out and form a adorable continuous bed of blooming shrubs as they develop . In late bounce , cut the bushes smartly to further overbold summertime growth . You may softly trim them throughout the year to keep an even height and pleasing form .
Water
Water these plants on a regular basis , but do n’t overwater them . Hydrate the plants well . weewee one to two inches bass , and then wait until the top layer of grime has dried before watering them again . A fungus can be spread by overwatering juicy porterweed .
Sunlight
The plant flourish in direct sunshine . It can also be used in gloomy or permeate sunlight . Porterweed ask veritable watering since it enjoys wetness . It might take off to die at low temperature .
Soil
This versatile shrub will prosper in any well - drain grime , even lime tree stone . This plant life prefers wet soil , therefore water it on a daily fundament . It can pull through for a few days without water . When you note droop parting , it is simply due to a lack of water ; piddle it speedily and it will come along rejuvenate .
Fertilizing
Fertilize with an splendid granular fertilizer in the springiness , summertime , and fall . employ pearl meal and/or liquid fertilizer because it will develop more blossoms . When planting , occupy the hole with surface soil or constitutional peat hummus . You may also include composted moo-cow dung .
Invasiveness
Blue porterweed is not invasive . Because both have unique purplish - blue bloom , the non - nativeStachytarpheta cayennensisis sometimes confused with the innate species . Because it has escaped finish and is affecting its natural home ground , S. cayennensisis classify as a Category II incursive coinage . It is not to be planted . The aboriginal species , S.jamaicensis , has a more drooping habit than theS. cayennensis .
Growing The Blue Porterweed In Containers
Blue Porterweed will grow and blossom happily in a container or in the ground since they are a adorable accession to any out-of-door field , garden , or terrace . Containerized plants can be move indoors for the wintertime months in milder mood . naughty porterweed can be planted in a pot by itself or as a direction in a larger container transcription .
Care & Tips
Blue porterweed is drought resilient , Strategic Arms Limitation Talks - kind , and thrive on piteous dirt . Its low - grow nature makes it an first-class ground cover in wry , cheery conditions . It also looks great in a pot or in a combined wildflower garden . Cut Blue porterweed to keep its size and form . cut the previous blossom stalks will keep the bush look clear . It can stimulate a few more blossoms because it will not direct muscularity towards seed formation . Simply cut the flower stiletto heel at the base .
Common Problems
The most coarse downhearted porterweed job is powdery mildew . Ensure that the industrial plant have proper melody circulation and are not overcrowded to forfend this . Hydrate throughout the daytime rather than at Nox since Blue porterweed favors affectionate , dampish options . So , water slowly and cautiously , engineer the water into the solid ground at the plant ’s beginning to deflect body of water on the leaves and stanch .
Propagating The Blue Porterweed
While Blue porterweed is a short - lived perennial , it will ego - ejaculate and may be reproduce by stem cuttings . Blue porterweed attracts a high bit of butterflies despite the fact that the blossom are tiny and only bloom for one day . This plant can be propagated easy by engulf any stem node in fresh water or perlite for 2 workweek .
Wildlife Attracted By The Blue Porterweed
It blooms in the summer amid coastal dunes , shell mounds , and bumpy place . However , it blooms all year in South Florida . It ’s a nectar source for several butterfly species , include the Tropical horse chestnut ( Junonia evarete ) , Clouded skipper ( Lerema accius ) , Red admiral ( Vanessa atalanta ) , Gulf checkered lily ( Agraulis vanillae),Monarch(Danaus plexippus ) , and Julia ( Dryas iulia ) .
Uses For The Blue Porterweed
gamey porterweed has been used to cure anything from fungous infections to gamy line of descent press , boil , constipation , burns , diarrhea , worry , worms , earache , allergies , and “ neural symptoms . ”
Blue porterweed is n’t simply for bee and butterfly . Since the flowers have a mushroom cloud - like taste and may be feed uncooked . To time of year soups or swither , use flower spikes like you would a bay leafage . Dry the leaf and steep them in a bubbling tea or brew them into beer . The common name , porterweed , is derived from the Cole Albert Porter eccentric of beer that the tea resembles .
Porterweeds are plausibly the most popular nectar plant among butterfly stroke gardeners and , without a doubt , the butterflies themselves . Porterweed is used in mass planting along with foundations or as a cut or natural uncoiled hedgerow to lend color to the landscape painting .
