Growing up, my family was obsessed with Bluets. It was always a big deal when we came across them, both my mother and grandfather tried multiple times to move them to their yards from the wild (which I know these days is NOT something you want to do), however I think the conditions just weren’t right (as they usually didn’t survive).
Now, where I live, there are bluets everywhere! They love the acidic sandy soil I have, and the areas that were opened up after logging out lolabolly pine. They’ve even taken over in areas in my garden, and I’m not complaining.
Sometimes I pick a few and put them in a teeny tiny vase. OK actually the vase is an old vial for medicine that my grandfather saved (he was a medical doctor), but it’s very vase-like, and is the perfect size. The flowers don’t last long when picked, maybe 2 days, but I enjoy them for that brief moment, and enjoy them for much of them summer in the wild.
Alternate Names: Azure Bluet, Quaker Ladies Size: 4" high, flower diameter is 3/8" across Family: Rubiaceae (Madder Family) Habitat: The preference is full or partial sun, moist to dry-mesic conditions, and either sandy or thin rocky soil that is somewhat acidic. Identifiers: Tiny flowers are pale blue with yellow centers, tubular, four-lobed, solitary, and terminal. Spatula-shaped leaves occur in basal rosettes. Stem leaves are small and the stems are unbranched. (from wildflower.org) Flowers April-June
Close up! Bluets are so tiny. I thought this was a different plant until I found it flowering with bluets. Not sure if the soil acidity or mineral levels make the foliage red here? Bluet blooming from the red foliage Bluets like rocks
