Trachymene coerulea Lace Blue

The Didiscus caeruleus ‘Lace Blue', also known as Blue Lace Flower, is an annual plant that charms with the elegance of its flowering, both in the garden and in bouquets. Its umbels of lavender-blue flowers, gently scented and attractive to pollinators, form throughout the summer. It is a very pretty flower for sunny borders, cut flower gardens, and containers. Its flowering, reminiscent of scabious, brings a lot of charm and romance to even the humblest of settings.

The Didiscus caeruleus ‘Lace Blue’ is a horticultural selection. It is an annual herbaceous plant from the Araliaceae family, just like ivy. The species is native to southwestern Australia, Malaysia, New Caledonia, and the Fiji Islands. This 'Lace Blue' variety charms with the delicacy of its lavender-blue inflorescences that flower from June-July until September. Each one, measuring 5 to 6 cm (2in) in diameter, is composed of tiny star-shaped flowers with five petals, grouped in a flat umbel whose texture resembles fine lace. The plant, reaching a height of 60 to 90 cm (24 to 35in) within a few weeks, has a branched and upright growth habit, with little foliage, which highlights the beauty of its flowers. The stump occupies about 35 cm (14in) of the ground. The foliage is mostly clustered at the base of the plant. Light in appearance, it is light green, composed of leaves that divide into a few leaflets.

The Didiscus caeruleus ‘Lace Blue’ lends itself to multiple uses. Whether in a mass planting, border, or pot, it brings a touch of elegance and lightness. Its associations with other plants of varied colours and textures allow for compositions suited to many styles of gardens. Sow the Blue Lace Flowers in slightly wild flowerbeds, in a meadow or in a dedicated strip for cut flowers. They will look superb with scabious and cosmos in shades of pink, red, or white. The rudbeckias, with their large bright yellow flowers, bring a touch of solar power that pairs well with the mauve-blue of the Blue Lace Flower. The Verbena bonariensis, a tall perennial with small purple flowers, creates a superb backdrop for the delicate flowers of the Blue Lace Flower. The Paniculate Gypsophila 'Snow Flake', which produces a cloud of white flowers, forms a light and airy mass that complements the more defined structure of the Blue Lace Flower.