Blue Curls

Trichostema dichotomum

Blue Curles is an annual wildflower with soft bluish green leaves and a rounded form. It is found along the back dune and scrub habitat. It is very drought tolerant in poor soils once established. Salt air is tolerated along with small amounts of salt water.

The small, half inch blue flowers are numerous and are attractive in a mass. Song birds eat the numerous seeds along with the insects attracted to them. Bees come to the flowers, yet not butterflies.

Use this in a mix of wildflowers that reseed themselves. Try Red Salvia, Southern Beebalm, Wild Basil, Beach Verbena, Silk Grass, Spiderwort and Dicliptera for a mix that provides seeds for birds and flowers for butterflies.

This planting will change as the seedlings come up in different places from year to year. Just rub the seeds off of the dry seedheads onto some areas free of mulch to start next years planting. You may need to rub the soil lightly to mix in the seeds.

Although the flowers aren’t large, there are enough of them to provide color to the planting. With a long blooming period from early summer to fall and lovely bluish leaves, Blue Curls has earned a place in our gardens.

For more info on this plant click here, and here.