Keep reading to learn more about using blue porterweed for ground coverage. You can find these tiny plants throughout the eastern united states. Pickerel weed pontederia cordata is an aquatic native plant found throughout florida. Native, small, shrubby perennial with somewhat weedy habit. Florida porterweed nectar source and larval butterfly host.
Stachytarpheta cayennensis is a species of flowering plant in the verbena family known by many english language common names, including blue snakeweed, cayenne snakeweed, dark blue snakeweed, bluetop, nettleleaf porterweed, rattail, roughleaf false vervain, blue rats tail, brazilian tea, cayenne vervain, false verbena, joee, nettleleaf. It has a low, sprawling habit and blooms throughout the year. Porters beer, porters ale, porter house steaks all go back to shops that serviced porters and laborers in england as early as the early 1700s. Blue porterweed stachytarpheta urticifolia join the club to manage your garden plant details. During this time, plants are actively growing, and the stems are succulent and flexible. The tea side of the blue porterweed is better known. Stachytarpheta species, jamaican porterweed stachytarpheta. Blue porterweed florida native plantslandscapingdelray.
Deep indigo 14 blooms adorn the long spikelike bloom stems from spring to frost above the rich green glossy foliage. Red porterweed stachytarpheta mutabilis by xeramtheum. It is very adapted to dry, sunny to partial sun salt exposed locations. When closed, you can see the characteristic mshaped white line towards the edge of their wings. This north american native plant is a must for butterfly enthusiasts. Porterweed is an annual in north florida, but may overwinter if protected from the cold. Uses, benefits, cures, side effects, nutrients in stachytarpheta jamaicensis. The institute of food and agricultural sciences ifas is an equal opportunity. The plants database includes the following 11 species of stachytarpheta. Institute of food and agricultural sciences ufifas. Pontederia cordata ufifas center for aquatic and invasive. Plants grow about 4feettall by 6feet wide before stems droop and touch the ground.
They have lovely purple, yellow, or white flowers and grow low to the ground. Blue porterweed groundcover using blue porterweed for. Also known as blue snakeweed, verbena azul, cayenne snakeweed. University cooperative extension program, and boards. Stachytarpheta cayennensis can be a noxious weed and is listed as a category ii nonnative invasive plant by the florida exotic pest plant council.
The institute of food and agricultural sciences ifas is an equal opportunity institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with nondiscrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. Other varieties including pink, purple and red porterweed have varying sizes and growth habits. Some ornamentals listed as invasive by the university of florida ifas assessment of nonnative plants in. Knox north florida research and education center, 155 research road, quincy, fl 32351 keona l. On the other hand, porterweed is attractive to butterflies and the deep blue flower color of stachytarpheta urticifolia has proven. Most will survive a very light frost and quickly return to normal in spring. The plant diagnostic clinic diagnoses plant problems based on submitted samples.
It also tolerates partial shade to full sun areas, and butterflies will love the brilliant blue flowers. These flowers attract butterflies and hummingbirds to the garden. This weeks last gasp of winter temperatures slowed the progress, but only slightly. Ort seed production and viability of eight porterweed. Name derived from traditional foamy, porterlike beverage brewed from the plant. Dark purple blue flowers are borne on slender stalks at the branch tips. Blue porterweed, stachytarpheta urticifolia, with piles of. You may be seeing this page because you used the back button while browsing a secure web site or application. This plant can seed a little too freely so give it lots of elbow room. The deeply textured leaves forms a lush, upright mound and the skinny spikes of blue flowers add a rich depth of. See more ideas about florida native plants, native plants and plants. Light blue snakeweed stachytarpheta jamaicensis has has blue or purple flowers and thicker, hairless flower stalks and fleshy leaves with hairless lower leaf surfaces. Blue or pink flowers are borne terminally on long, stringy spikes at the ends of the stems. Flowers highly attractive to butterfliesa must for any butterfly garden.
Please visit the plant sales home page for weekly schedules. Porterweed is a small perennial shrub that becomes woody toward the base of the stem as is grows to about oneyearold. Its diminutive purplish blue flowers are borne on long spikes. Cayenne porterweed stachytarpheta cayennensis has blue or white flowers and hairless flower stalks and lower leaf surfaces. Stachytarpheta jamaicensis blue porterweed ufifas extension. Polygonum hydropiperoides ufifas center for aquatic and. Wilson1 indian river research and education center, fort pierce, fl 34945 gary w. Lavender porterweed is a medium to large growing exceptionally full and vigorous porterweed was once considered to be a purple form of the highly popular coral porterweed although we have learned that this is a sterile or nearly sterile hybrid cultivar. Native to south florida, where it is widely sold and planted. Each hindwing of the white m hairstreak also has a tailthis is the hairstreak from their nameand. Stachytarpheta jamaicensis herb uses, benefits, cures, side.
Butterfly sage cordia globosa also known as bloodberry sage, this is a good ground cover plant for areas with poor. There are countless species of native violetsmany have more than one common name. It bears small reddishpurple to deep blue flowers that grow along tall bracts that are favored by butterflies. The small blue flowers are born on a whip like spike and are very attractive to butterflies. Butterflies and hummingbirds are attracted to these flowers. Beautiful blue porterweed stachytarpheta jamaicensis. Ufifas gcrec plant city center university of florida. Stachytarpheta jamaicensis is a species of plant in the family verbenaceae, native throughout the caribbean. Commonly known as blue or native porterweed, the true.
The website also provides access to a database and images of herbarium specimens found at the university of south florida and other herbaria. It is a great plant for butterfly gardens and a native landscape. Blue porterweed stachytarpheta jamaicensis grows in disturbed sites and on coastal dunes in central and south florida. Gcrec plant city offers a teaching program for the following degree.
With hundreds of annual and perennial species coming in an array of colors and sizes, you can easily find one or more to complement your landscape. It is the host plant of the tropical buckeye and is a nectar source for many butterfly species including the clouded skipper lerema accius, gulf fritillary agraulis vanillae, red admiral vanessa atalanta, and julia dryas iulia. There isnt too much one can do with pesticides since the plants are used to attract butterflies and bees. Florida violets university of florida, institute of food. Slender flower spikes resembling a rats tail rise at least a foot above the foliage. Stachytarpheta jamaicensis florida native plant society. A host of experts is available to help floridians identify any insect or related arthropod.
Rich, dark green foliage displayed on square, green stems makes porterweed a nice addition to any sunny landscape. This document is fps559, one of a series of the environmental horticulture department, uf ifas extension. Blue porterweed is in the verbenaceae family and the small five lobed flowers resemble verbena blooms. Black and blue salvia black calabash black oak blackbead blackberry lily blackeyed susan blanket flower blazing star blolly bloodberry blue daze blue flag iris blue mist shrub blue plumbago blue porterweed blue verbena blue eyed grass bolivian sunset gloxinia bracken fern brazilian snapdragon brittle maidenhair fern browallia, amethyst flower. Pickerelweed pontederia cordata pickerelweed is a very common and widely recognized native. The dark blue porterweed stachytarpheta cayennensis is a great addition to any butterfly plant. There is no pink or red flowered variety of this native. Small blue or pink flowers appear in numbers on long spikes at the end of the. Flowers open for only one day and wont open on very cloudy days. Fgcu%foodforest% plantdatabase% % blue %porterweed%stachytarpheta jamaicensis general%description. Blue porterweed typically flowers in the summer, but may flower yearround in south florida.
Blue porterweed is a lowgrowing and sprawling evergreen shrub. Local garden centers will often sell the asian blue porterweed, but you can find the native one more often from native plant growers. This variety of blue porterweed is an upright perennial growing to 3 feet in height with branching stems, a woody base and long tap root. Muller indian river research and education center, fort. It does freeze back in the winter where exposed to cold and reseeds in the spring. They add a wonderful accent to any outdoor space, garden or patio. The drink is used for fever, for the cooling of the blood, as a wash for skin irritations, to relieve constipation, and for worms in children. Blue or pink flowers are borne terminally on long, stringy spikes at the ends of the. Porterweed is a small perennial shrub that becomes woody toward the base of the stem as is grows to about one year old. Blue porterweed is found in the rocklands of the everglades to key west in open, sunny places. The primary areas include plant breeding, entomology, horticulture, plant pathology and weed science. The white m hairstreak parrhasius malbum has only a glimpse of metallic blue on their wings when folded together, but when open they are almost completely blue, with black edges. Jul 14, 20 lady bird johnson wildflower center focused on protecting and preserving north americas native plants through native plant lists and image galleries, conservation, education, natural landscapes, seed collection millennium seed bank msb project, preserving and restoring native communities, spreading awareness on invasive species and gardening to attract wildlife.
Introduction porterweed is a small perennial shrub that becomes woody toward the base of the stem as. Light blue snakeweed stachytarpheta jamaicensis has has blue or purple flowers and thicker, hairless flower stalks and. The florida museum cultivates the following plants for sale. Plant database entry for red porterweed stachytarpheta mutabilis with 35 images, one comment, and 31 data details. There is a pink variety of this plant which can grow rapidly to 12 and puts out quite a show. The south florida native blue is the one to buy it stays much smaller. Blue butterflies gardening solutions university of. Names of stachytarpheta jamaicensis in various languages of the world are also given. Blue porterweed is one of the most popular of south floridas butterfly attracting plants, with brilliant blue flowers appearing partway up the funky, swirly, upright stems. Small blue or pink flowers appear in numbers on long spikes at the end of the stems, and are very attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds. The species is not used by butterflies, contrary to published misinformation.
The socalled porterweeds by roger hammer reprinted from the miamidade chapters newsletter, the tillandsia, jul. Introduction porterweed is a small perennial shrub that becomes woody toward the base of the stem as is grows to about one year old. It occurs throughout florida and flowers yearround. The leaves are three inches long and a bit leathery and smooth with a low, matt forming growth usually under 18 inches tall. Blue porterweed, blue snakeweed, brazilian tea, jamaican porterweed, jamaica vervain. The gulf coast research and education center focuses on strawberry breeding, tomato breeding and ornamentals. Salvias are great plants for bringing butterflies and hummingbirds to your garden and as a bonus, they have no serious pests. Porterweed is a perennial ground cover with coarse thick, dark green leaves. Stachytarpheta jamaicensis light blue snakeweed stachytarpheta mutabilis changeable velvetberry stachytarpheta speciosa. The species with pink ro read flowers is the exotic stachytarpheta mutabilis, which is native to south america and not florida. Softwood stem cuttings, taken from spring until midsummer, root the quickest. Ifas is an equal opportunity institution authorized to.
These piles of dirt are accumulated frass and silk webbing from a caterpillar, pyralidae. Spiderwort and rustweed plants are sprouting and producing. Salvia university of florida, institute of food and. It is common nearly throughout the state of florida and blooms from spring to fall wunderlin, 2003. When people speak of propagating plants, they usually mean taking cuttings using pieces of stems, roots, and leaves to start new plants. It has many common names including blue porterweed, blue snake weed, bastard vervain, brazilian tea, jamaica vervain, and light blue snakeweed. The central american brew made with the blue porterweed got its name by the dark color and bitter flavor of that ancient ale. Its leaves are dark green, oval to lanceshaped with serrated margins and are oppositely arranged. Three to four foot tall stems are topped with slender spikes of dark blue flowers.
This variety of blue porterweed is an upright perennial growing to 3 feet in height with branching. An excellent choice for butterfly gardens or in containers. Native porterweed is a low spreading plant growing from 6 inches to 18 inches in height and up to 4 feet in spread. Seed production and viability of eight porterweed selections grown in northern and southern florida sandra b. These plants grow wider rather than tall with typical heights of 4 feet with 6 feet widths. The only native porterweed is stachytarpheta jamaicensis, which has blue to purple flowers. Florida violets are native, perennial wildflowers found in open woods and clearings throughout florida. Blue porterweed stachytarpheta jamaicensis nearly any welldrained soil will accommodate this ground cover plant. Click below on a thumbnail map or name for species profiles.
The invasive plant management program in florida has contracted over 190. Plants vary in size and growth habit depending on the species. This perennial is usually found in shallow wetland areas or around the edges of lakes and ponds. In very cold zones a containerized blue porterweed can be brought inside for the winter months. Vahl is a member of the family of verbenaceae and is commonly known as gervao, brazilian tea, verbena cimarrona, rooter comb, or blue porter weed 1, 7. The museum only features 15 plant varieties each week. The genus stachytarpheta has undergone a series of taxonomic revisions that are further complicated by putative hybrids wilson et al. Pickerelweed typically grows to about 2 or 3 feet tall. The aggressive habit of these plants helps stabilize the banks of natural water bodies and retention ponds. If your mystery creature has six or more legs, the uf insect id lab is the place to send it. Brazilian tea is a weedy annual and sometimes perennial herbaceous plant that grows 60120 cm tall.
The university of floridas institute of food and agricultural sciences uf ifas is a federalstatecounty partnership dedicated to developing knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences, and enhancing and sustaining the quality of human life by making that information accessible. Blue porterweed are very easy to grow tropical plants that require little care. Plants grow about 4 feet tall by 6 feet wide before stems droop and touch the ground. Pickerel weed university of florida, institute of food and. Porterweed is a small shrub that produces tiny, nectar filled blossoms with uniquelyshaped, 4sided stems, flowering and fading until reaching the very top. Blue porterweed is a low growing south florida native that produces small blue flowers nearly year round and is an excellent choice for attracting pollinators.
Polygonum hydropiperoides is found in marshes, swamps, cypress domes, lake shores, and pond margins. Stachytarpheta jamaicensis blue porterweed1 edward f. The blue is the one to buy if you dont have a lot of room it stays much smaller. Blue is the most commonly grown variety, and the only one thats moderately cold hardy. Blue porterweed is a small perennial shrub which during its first year of growth becomes woody toward the base of the stem.
Penthesilea difficilis, tunneling inside the stem photo with flower and frass by stephen brown, uf ifas extension lee co. University of florida, institute of food and agricultural sciences extension outreach is a partnership between state, federal, and county governments to provide scientific knowledge and expertise to the public. Alternatively, you may have mistakenly bookmarked the web login form instead of the actual web site you wanted to bookmark or used a link created by somebody else who made the same mistake. Porterweed is a small perennial shrub that becomes woody toward the base of. With spring 2018 barely out of the starting gate, all kinds of plants are sprouting and producing blooms. Blue porterweed is an intermediate growing porterweed and has a fairly dense upright habit. Stachytarpheta species, blue porterweed, blue rats tail. This plant mostly grows in the tropical regions of america, as well as in the subtropical forests of africa, asia, and oceania. Mounding plant to 12 feet tall and wide, with dull green. The blue porterweed is native to tropical america but is naturalized in warm areas around the world, including south florida.
How stachytarpheta jamaicensis is effective for various diseases is listed in repertory format. A foaming, porterlike brew, much like beer, is made from at least one species in the bahamas. See more ideas about plants, florida plants and landscape. The atlas of florida plants provides a source of information for the distribution of plants within the state and taxonomic information. This porterweed is the florida native with bluish purple flowers. It is usually found along country roadsides and it grows also well as a. Blue porterweed stachytarpheta urticifolia my garden life. Its leaves are large up to 5 inches wide and are usually twice as long. Seed production and viability of eight porterweed selections grown.
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