Texas Native Plant Pictures by color ( Blue )

Blue Gilia, Prickleleaf Gilia, Stiffleaf Gilia, Bluebowls (Gilia rigidula), Polemoniaceae Family, perennial/annual, native, subshrub, blooms from February or March through July or August (depending upon its habitat) - it frequently reblooms in the fall

Blue gilia can be found natively growing in dry sandy, rocky limestone or chalky soils of plains, prairies, brushlands, slopes or evergreen wooded environs. The blooms are about 3/4 of an inch wide. However , they standout well because of their color. The plant forms a basal rosette of leaves; however, it has a stout, woody base. The stems are very small and slender. It has a taproot, so it is difficult to dig up and replant without it being injured. I have tried to save 2 of them from construction bulldozers and both have died. It is considered to be rare. It is a very low growing groundcover and makes an excellent plant to use in a rock garden, wildscape or xeriscape. It also can be used in an area trhat needs erosion control.

Distribution
http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/cgi/vpt_map_name?reg=2,6,7,8,9,10&name=%3Ci%3EGilia+rigidula%3C/i%3E+Benth.+ssp.+%3Ci%3Erigidula%3C/i%3E

For more information, see its entry in the PlantFiles.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/62385/index.html

The bloom closeup ... note the bloom bud that is a unique color


This message was edited Apr 4, 2007 1:21 AM

Baby Blue Eyes, Baby Blue-Eyes, Large-Flowered Nemophila (Nemophila phacelioides), Hydrophyllaceae Family, Texas native, annual, blooms March or April through May (if we don't have hot, hot May)

Baby blue eyes is an annual that likes cool weather. It is found natively in moist sandy or sometimes clay soils of plains, woodlands, partially shaded thicket edges, meadows, river bottoms, prairies and coastal brushlands. It can form large colonies with enough moisture. The alternate, stalked leaves are bluish-green and can vary in shape. They are lobed or divided into segments as well as sometimes irregularly toothed. The stems and leaves have fine hairs. The blue to blue-violet blooms are about 1 inch wide (may be up to 1.25 inches) and have a white center. They may appear solitarily from the leaf axils or in clusters at the tip of stems. As soon as the weather starts heating up, they disappear. The blooms are lovely, especially in early morning and in late afternoon sunlight or when backlit. Here's one plant that does well in partial or light shade.

Distribution:
http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/cgi/vpt_map_name?reg=1,2,3,4,6,7&name=%3Ci%3ENemophila+phacelioides%3C/i%3E+Nutt.

For more information, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/156344/index.html

Bloom ...

Baby Blue Eyes, Baby Blue-Eyes, Large-Flowered Nemophila (Nemophila phacelioides)

Baby Blue Eyes, Baby Blue-Eyes, Large-Flowered Nemophila (Nemophila phacelioides)

Seed capsule starting to form ...

Phacelia, Blue Curls, Caterpillar, Fiddleneck, Spider Flower, Wild Heliotrope (Phacelia congesta), Hydrophyllaceae Family, Texas native, annual/biennial, blooms from February or March through May or June

Blue curls is found natively in gravelly, rocky or sandy soils on woodland edges, river and stream banks, and around ponds. It typically is found in large colonies which make a dramatic display in late winter/early spring. The alternate, soft, 4 inch long, 1 5/8 inch wide hairy leaves have deeply cut lobes which are irregularly toothed. The .25 inch purple, blue or white blooms appear in raceme-like, coiled clusters. The coils unfurl as the blooms open. The blooms have 5 petals that are united and form an open bell shape. The stamens conspicuously protrude past the petals. The plant grows easily from seed.

Distribution:
http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/cgi/vpt_map_name?reg=2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10&name=%3Ci%3EPhacelia+congesta%3C/i%3E+Hook.

For more informationand more photos, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/55642/index.html

The coils with blooms about to open ...

Phacelia, Blue Curls, Caterpillar, Fiddleneck, Spider Flower, Wild Heliotrope (Phacelia congesta)

An opened bloom and coil up close ...

Phacelia, Blue Curls, Caterpillar, Fiddleneck, Spider Flower, Wild Heliotrope (Phacelia congesta)

Backlit by morning sunlight ...

Phacelia, Blue Curls, Caterpillar, Fiddleneck, Spider Flower, Wild Heliotrope (Phacelia congesta)

Branching stems which each end with a bloom cluster ...

RE: Phacelia, Blue Curls, Caterpillar, Fiddleneck, Spider Flower, Wild Heliotrope (Phacelia congesta)

I have so many of these guys growing everywhere here. Anyone want seeds???
They are very pretty indeed.

Judy

Very nice Hazel!! I really like this Phacelia.


Judy would it be alright to send you a SASBE for some of the seeds?


Deb

Me too Judy, I don't have those and they are adorable. I would love some seeds.

Sure. I just mowed most of them down in the yard area today. (I just moved into this area in Dec. and it was knee to waist high in weeds then - 2 1/3 acres worth). Was waiting for the bluebonnets to go to seed. I pulled quite a few of the flower heads off before mowing and put them in a nice size paper bag. Hope the seeds will fall out into it. There are no real visible seed pods that I can identify, so wish me luck. There are still lots more all around here ( I live in the country, but you know, I driven in other parts not far from here and didn't see them. I live on the east side of I-35 just south of SA and my soil is sand -like beach sand. The west side of I-35 has black dirt, so they are not native there). As soon as I know for sure I have some seeds, I'll send soem out and post a message to your D-Mail.
My addy is in the database.

Ok, here is a photo of a patch of bluebonnets in the backyard. We had them everywhere here. I was surprised to see a few stragglers come up and bloom uder the oak trees. Guess they got enough light.

Whenever you are ready just let us know and thank you for checking.
Josephine.

Thanks, Deb. I am fascinated by the blooms on this plant. There were a lot of them in bloom this year probably due to the rain for a change,

Drummond's Skullcap, (Scutellaria drummondii var. edwardsiana), Lamiaceae Family, annual, Texas native, blooms early spring through mid-summer (depends upon the zone in which it is growing), blooms may be lavender or blue-violet

Distribution:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Texas&statefips=48&symbol=SCDRE

For more information (couldn't find much on this plant), see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/142404/index.html

Bloom and calyces with skullcap-like (or shield-like) protrusions which are called scutellums. They are reddish-purple in color here.

Drummond's Skullcap, (Scutellaria drummondii var. edwardsiana)

Blooms are paired in the axils of the leaves. This photo provides a view of opened blooms, a bloom just starting to open and unopened blooms.

Drummond's Skullcap, (Scutellaria drummondii var. edwardsiana)

As seen in bright afternoon sunlight ...

Drummond's Skullcap, (Scutellaria drummondii var. edwardsiana)

The beautiful little plant in its native habitat which is being savaged by land development. This sidewalk leads to a recently built school in the fastest growing school district in the nation due to the huge number of new homes that have been completed. Too bad that building codes in my area do not contain a provision for wildscape areas being set aside to conserve flora and fauna.

Texas Sage, Blue Sage (Salvia texana), Lamiaceae Family, native, perennial, blooms March through May or April through June depending upon in what region it is growing

Texas sage is called blue sage in most wildflower books. It can be found growing natively in dry, limestone soils in the Edwards Plateau, the South Texas Plains, Central and West Texas on hillsides, slopes, ledges and disturbed areas. It is an erect plant that grows from six to fifteen inches high and is often overlooked. The narrow, 2 inch long leaves are opposite or whorled below the the blooms. They may be slightly toothed on the upper two thirds of the leaf margins. The purple to dark blue flower is 3/4 to 1 inch long with a white throat and 2 stamen. Its stem has retrorse (directed back or downwards) long and short hairs on all 4 sides (need a hand lens to see) and the throat of the bloom calyx is very hairy. It has a taproot and forms a winter rosette. Texas sage resembles Engelmann's sage, but it has smaller, darker colored flowers and it also has a longer bloom period.

Distribution according to USDA:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Texas&statefips=48&symbol=SATE3

Distribution according to TAMU:
http://www.csdl.tamu.edu/FLORA/cgi/vpt_map_name?reg=2,4,5,6,7,8,9,10&name=%3Ci%3ESalvia+texana%3C/i%3E+(Scheele)+Torr.

For more information, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/113584/index.html

A bloom showing its densely hairy calyx ... blooms may be dark blue, blue-violet or purple and may become somewhat lighter in color with age. This bloom is much darker than as captured by my camera.

Texas Sage, Blue Sage (Salvia texana)

A close view of the upper portion of a bloom (illuminated with the flash function on) ...

Gorgeous Hazel!!!

Thanks, Josephine. This is another of the "little ones" that I am so fond of.

Swordleaf Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium chilense), Iridaceae Family, native, perennial, blooms in March through May

Swordleaf blue-eyed grass forms a dense, turf-like clump given time. Although its name implies that it is a grass, it is not and is related to the iris. The derivation of the genus name "Sisyrinchium" comes from the Greek words "sys" (pig) and "rhynchos" (nose). This refers to the habit of pigs or wild hogs "grubbing" the roots. It can be found growing along roadsides, in meadows, oak uplands, open woodlands, pastures, prairies, plains and savannahs. It grows in a variety of soils, but prefers sandy, sandy loam and medium loam. It has been found in clay loam, clay and limestone-based soils. It will remain evergreen if kept watered through the summer and it needs water when in bloom. This wet spring has blessed Texans with a wonderful showing of these beautiful little plants.

The leaves are narrow and long and emerge from the base. The gray-green flower stem is short and winged. Each inflorescence has two leaf-like bracts underneath it where it meets the main stem. These are called the spathe. There are two of these leaf-like structures where the flowers emerge as well which are both about the same length. The blue to blue-violet "petals" of the yellow-based small bloom are actually tepals. Three of the six are narrower than the other three. The yellow base appears as a yellow "eye" in the center of the bloom. It is usually outlined in dark bluish purple. The filaments (stalks of the anthers) are connate (grown together). The flowers close at night or in cloudy weather. The round, 1/4 inch seed capsules are light to dark brown. Each seed has a small indentation on one side. Seed may be collected in May when the seeds are black.

Any of the blue-eyed grass species are excellent choices to use as border plants and/or iin wildscapes. They also can be used as container plants.

Distribution:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Texas&statefips=48&symbol=SICH2

For more information, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/142795/index.html

A fully opened bloom, unripe seed capsule and spent bloom shown in the late afternoon. The tepals are recurved backward which is not always the case. (For other photos of blooms and seed capsules, see later date posts: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=8683141
http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/p.php?pid=8683143)


This message was edited Jul 10, 2011 1:17 AM

Swordleaf Blue-Eyed Grass (Sisyrinchium chilense)

A bloom highlighted by late afternoon sunlight ... the blooms appear to be different colors depending upon the lighting situation. Also, the color intensity varies somehat by population. Note that 3 of the tepals are a bit narrower than the other 3.

Colorado Venus' Looking-Glass, Western Venus Looking Glass (Triodanis coloradoensis), Campanulaceae Family, endemic, annual, blooms from April through June

Colorado Venus' Looking-Glass derives its common name from its very shiny tiny seed that resembles a mirror. It is an erect endemic plant that s found natively growing in dry rocky soils on ledges, rocky hills, open woodlands, edges of floodplains and gravel bars in the South Texas Plains and the Edwards Plateau regions. It typically is about 2 feet tall, but can reach 30 inches under very favorable conditions. Normally, it has a solitary stem that has a few branches in the upper portion. The stem and branches are thin and delicate.and it has elliptic (twice as long as wide) leaves that are about 2 to 2 7/8 inches long and 1/2 inch wide. They are alternate with the lower ones being short-stalked and the upper ones stalkless.

The 1/2 to 3/4 inch, 5-petalled (fused into a short stem) blooms are blue-violet with white inside the tube. The petals may have whitish streaks. Each bloom has 5 sepals which are united into a tube and appears solitarily from the upper leaf axils. Actually, it has two types of blooms: the showy upper flowers which appear later in the plant's growth are open at pollination and the lower flowers which appear first are small, closed and self-pollinating. The seed are in a capsule. When mature, a part of the capsule rolls upward which exposes a slit in the capsule. The seed then escape.

Distribution:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Texas&statefips=48&symbol=TRCO5

For more information, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/144268/index.html

The bloom has a 3-lobed stigma. It may be darker or lighter in color than this bloom.

Colorado Venus' Looking-Glass, Western Venus Looking Glass (Triodanis coloradoensis)

Another bloom ..

Colorado Venus' Looking-Glass, Western Venus Looking Glass (Triodanis coloradoensis)

A leaf ...

Venus' Looking-glass, Clasping Venus' Looking-glass, Round-leaved Venus' Looking-glass (Triodanis perfoliata), Campanulaceae Family, annual, blooms from March through July

Note: Although the blooms on the plants I observed were more of a purplish color than blue-violet, I am posting this plant ih the blue thread because the blooms may be either color and one can compare this species to the one that is posted above.

Round-leaved Venus' looking-glass can be found growing in old fields, prairies and pastures, on cliffs, at the edges of woodlands and along roadsides. It pops up in soil that has been disturbed and prefers sandy soils. However, the ones I observed are growing in limestoney soil. It grows natively in all regions of Texas. It is an erect, up to 30 inches tall plant that is usually unbranched. The ones I observed had one soliatry stem; however, it may branch from the base (multiple stems).

The fused 5-petalled,1/3" to 1/2" wide blooms open widely and have a white center with a protruding, white style. Each is subtended by small, cupped leaf. Like Triodanis coloradoensis, it has two types of blooms: the showy upper flowers which appear later in the plant's growth are open at pollination and the lower flowers which appear first are small, closed and self-pollinating.The alternate, up to 1" leaves are rounded, clasp the stem and are palmately veined. They are deeply notched at the base and have shallowly toothed (rounded) edges. The fruit is an oblong capsule. When mature, a part of the capsule rolls upward which exposes a slit (pore) in the capsule which facilitates the release of the seed. The pore is broadly elliptical to rounded which distinguishes it from T. holzinger which has capsules that have linear pores.

Distribution:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Texas&statefips=48&symbol=TRTE4

For more information, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/55426/index.html

Blooms may be blue-violet to purple - these were purplish and the spent blooms were blue to blue-violet.

Venus' Looking-glass, Clasping Venus' Looking-glass, Round-leaved Venus' Looking-glass (Triodanis perfoliata)

A not as widely open bloom (just opened) that still has wrinkles and some spent blooms

Venus' Looking-glass, Clasping Venus' Looking-glass, Round-leaved Venus' Looking-glass (Triodanis perfoliata)

Bloom buds, opening bloom from the side and spent blooms

Venus' Looking-glass, Clasping Venus' Looking-glass, Round-leaved Venus' Looking-glass (Triodanis perfoliata)

Stem structure and the elongated hypanthium with the cupped leaves below them

Venus' Looking-glass, Clasping Venus' Looking-glass, Round-leaved Venus' Looking-glass (Triodanis perfoliata)

Seed capsule just starting to form which looks like a tiny pickle right in the center

Venus' Looking-glass, Clasping Venus' Looking-glass, Round-leaved Venus' Looking-glass (Triodanis perfoliata)

Tiny seed capsules in the axils of the leaves

Venus' Looking-glass, Clasping Venus' Looking-glass, Round-leaved Venus' Looking-glass (Triodanis perfoliata)

About 5mm long seed capsules ... the pores have opened. Most of the very tiny seeds have been dispersed and a few teensy seeds can be seen on the leaf and stem. It has broadly elliptical to rounded capsule openings which distinguish it from T. holzingeri which has linear pores.

Deb (debnes_dfw_tx) and Josephine (frostweed), I have the seeds ready for the Blue Curls -Phacelia> If you still want them, please send a small SASE. They are tiny seeds (the size of petunia seeds), so a small one will do fine.


Thanks,

Judy Johnson
285 Rhonda Drive
Lytle, TX 78052

Judy, you are so sweet to do this.
I will send an SASE soon.
Thank you very much, is there anything I can offer you?
Josephine.

Me too Judy!! Thank you so much for remembering :-)))))


:-Deb

I thought maybe Hazel or Josephine would know what this plant it popping up here in the garden. I am hoping it is something I planted.

:-Deb

Deb, the leaf reminds me of carnation, but I know that is not it since the flower is very different, however I can't really see the flower just the general shape, it seems to be some kind of bell, but I cannot tell. Sorry.
maybe a clearer picture of the flower will help.
Josephine.