code: 1012
rich blue flowers which are larger
Family: Apocynaceae
Common name: Eastern Blue Star, Rhazya orientalis
Plant Classification: Hardy perennial
Minimum Height: 40 cm
Maximum Height: 60 cm
Packet Content(approx.): 8 largish seeds
This most desirable native of Greece and Asia Minor has heads of ornamental, rich blue flowers which are larger, and open for longer than most other varieties, and narrow lance shaped foliage. A beautiful, if rarely-seen plant, it deserves to be more widely grown as it is well-behaved and runs very slowly indeed. Few good seeds collected.
Sowing advice:
For best results, sow seeds immediately onto a good soil-based compost. Cover the seeds with fine grit or compost to approximately their own depth. They can be sown at any time, and germination can sometimes be quicker if kept at 15 to 20 degrees C. However, we sow most seeds in an unheated greenhouse and wait for natural germination as many seeds have built-in dormancy mechanisms, and often wait for spring before emerging regardless of when they are sown. But spring sowing will obviously give them a full season of growth if successful germination occurs.
Information:
- Position: Full sun, partial shade
- Soil: Almost any soil
- Flowers: May, June, July
- Other features: –
- Hardiness: H4 – Hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5°C)
- Habit: Clump forming
- Foliage: Deciduous
- Height: 30 – 60 cm (1 – 2 ft)
- Spread: 30 – 60 cm (1 – 2 ft)
- Time to full growth: 2 to 5 years
- Plant type: Herbaceous Perennial
- Colour: Blue, white, green
- Goes well with: Geranium, Crocosmia, Rosa
