code: 865
This astonishing tough perennial
Family: Hydrophyllaceae
Common name: Blue-flowered grape-leaf, caterpillar flower, Bolander’s scorpionweed,
Plant Classification: Hardy perennial
Minimum Height: 12 cm
Maximum Height: 20 cm
This is probably the first ever offering of this rare plant. Flared lavender-blue trumpet flowers with bright blue pollen, and loved by bees and butterflies, open on hairy stems bearing toothed, hairy leaves, very late in the season, from May into August. This astonishing tough perennial (yes! A bone-hardy perennial phacelia) is native to cold Douglas Fir and Redwood forests in Northern California and Oregon, and makes an amazing display in any open spot. Why this has only just been discovered amazes us.
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:
Main flower color: Purple
Range: Coastal areas of north California, Oregon and southwest Washington
Height: Up to 3 feet
Habitat: Hillsides, coastal bluffs, woodland, below 4,500 feet
Leaves: Ovate to oblong, up to 4.5 inches long, with large edge teeth (or small lobes), stalked
Season: April to August
