Isotoma Stella Blue - Rock Isotome

Laurentia or Isotoma 'Stella Blue' is a horticultural variety of a plant also known as Solenopsis axillaris. It forms a dense and rounded cushion-like clump with fine, cut green foliage. Its small branched stems are covered with small, star-shaped and fragrant blue flowers throughout the summer and into the autumn. It is a small, graceful and vibrant perennial plant that is grown as an annual in our climates. It can be planted at the edge of flower beds or in hanging baskets and containers on the terrace and balcony, where its trailing habit cascades beautifully.

Native to Australia, Isotoma is a fast-growing herbaceous perennial plant with woody base, often grown as an annual due to its lack of hardiness, but also because of its long and abundant flowering. It belongs to the Campanulaceae family. It quickly forms a naturally compact and nicely rounded clump, measuring 25 to 30cm (10 to 12in) in all directions. Its narrow, evergreen leaves are dark green, finely cut, tapered and toothed. Between May and October, and even until the first frost, its numerous small flowers with 5 pointed lobes arranged in a star shape bloom continuously. They have a pleasant fragrance. This plant is resistant to heat and drought, but will be more floriferous in fertile and moist soil.

Isotoma 'Stella Blue', although not well-known, deserves a place in the garden as well as in pots and hanging baskets. Easy to grow and very floriferous, its delicate foliage and light star-shaped flowers make it an airy and decorative plant. It can be used en masse in borders or as accents among other plants in a flower bed. Combine it with other annual or perennial plants: geraniums, begonias, gypsophila, petunias. Plant it in rock gardens as well, with poppies, Osteospermums, small dahlias.

Note: Please be aware that our young plug plants are professional products intended for experienced gardeners: upon receipt, transplant and store them under cover (veranda, greenhouse, cold frame...) at a temperature above 14°C (57.2°F) for a few weeks before planting them outdoors once the risk of frost is definitively gone.