Houstonia pusilla (Tiny Bluet) on 4-3-22, #864-3.
Hello everyone! I hope this post finds you well. The first early spring wildflowers are off and running and I feel like I have come back to life. Well, I am somewhat tardy since some have been blooming for a while now. I was on a walk to the back of the farm on Sunday and spotted a couple of good-sized colonies of dainty wildflowers. Hmmm… HOLY CRAP! I had not identified these before!
Houstonia pusilla (Tiny Bluet) on 4-3-22, #864-2.
It seems early spring wildflowers are the same every year. The first, whether you notice them or not, are usually Veronica persica (Bird’s-Eye Speedwell). They are the wildflowers that are so tiny you can easily miss them and start blooming when they are still tiny plants. They are followed rather abruptly by Capsella bursa-pastoris (Shepherd’s Purse), Lamium amplexicaule (Henbit), Lamium purpureum (Deadnettle), and Stellaria media (Common Chickweed). The Glechoma hederacea (Ground Ivy) start flowering at about the same time in some areas (in the sun) while the ones in the shade bloom a little later.
Houstonia pusilla (Tiny Bluet) on 4-3-22, #864-6.
Back to the Tiny Bluet… I seem to remember seeing these before somewhere but it was so long ago I had forgotten when and where. Seeing them in the back pasture close to the pond kind of jogged my memory, kind of like deja vu…
Houstonia pusilla (Tiny Bluet) on 4-3-22, #864-7.
Houstonia pusilla is a member of the plant family Rubiaceae along with Cleavers (Galium aparine). You know, the silly plant that sticks to everything.
Houstonia pusilla (Tiny Bluet) on 4-3-22, #864-4.
Actually, the hairy leaves reminded me more of Cerastium glomeratum (Sticky Mouse-Ear Chickweed/Clammy Chickweed) which is in the family Caryophyllaceae… Hmmm… I haven’t seen those for a while.
Houstonia pusilla (Tiny Bluet) on 4-3-22, #864-8.
The flowers of the Houstonia pusilla are trumpet-shaped and have 4-lobed calyces, 1-4 mm long. Just glancing from above, you wouldn’t even notice the flowers are even trumpet-shaped.
Houstonia pusilla (Tiny Bluet) on 4-3-22, #864-9.
One of the colonies had darker, more purplish flowers. Flowers of the Houstonia pusilla are usually sky blue or lavender, but can also be white or pink. All have the reddish ring around the throat that seems to radiate outward.
This species is a winter annual with a fairly weak root system. They only grow 2-4″ tall and blooms in March and April. Apparently, they prefer growing in bare spots where they don’t have much competition with grass. Who could blame them, they are so small and wouldn’t get noticed otherwise.
At last, spring seems to be here. The grass in the backyard already needs mowing. The plants inside are itching to get back on the porches for the summer but they will have to wait a little longer. The wild crocus have bloomed and soon the tulips will have their chance. The Grape Hyacinths are at it now but there don’t seem to be as many as before.
Winter has been weird with temps up and down. The Hosta… Well, it appears ‘Empress Wu’ may be the only one that survived the winter. I keep checking and hopefully, they will return. I have had some of them since 2009…
I am STILL writing descriptions for some of the wildflowers and I still have 20 or so to finish! It is a winter project but I have been kind of lazy in that respect. I get caught up watching a series or a movie instead of working on descriptions. GEEZ!!!
Since the weather is warming up nicely I will have more to write about…
Until next time, be safe, stay positive, and always be thankful. It is getting time to GET DIRTY!
The Belmont Rooster 
My daffodils are emerging but not yet blooming. Soon.
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Hello Jim! Very good. That is a very good sign. 🙂 Take care and thanks for the comment!
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I have begun a fascination with African Violets…Of which I can thank you for. Your love of plants has woken my love of plants.
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Hello Linda! Hmmm… My mother used to have LOTS of them. Maybe over 100. They have rules. 🙂 Take care and thanks for the comment!
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WOW 100 or more! WOW
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Yep. When dad remodeled the old house (where I grew up), he enclosed the side porch and turned it into a laundry room. There were windows along the side and mom had most of them on a VERY LONG dresser. It was quite a sight and she had them for YEARS. I have no clue what she did with them when they moved to the farm.
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I would have loved to see them! WOW
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🙂
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I found my very first Veronica persica last weekend. I had no idea what it was; I found that it’s non-native, but my goodness, it’s a cute little thing. As for those bluets, they’re everywhere down here: appropriate, since I’m just outside Houston! They are pretty, and generally blue, although I’ve found pinkish and white. They’re certainly an early flower. I just looked in my archives and found some I photographed as early as the first week in February. What a difference a few degrees of latitude can make!
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Hello Linda! The Veronica persica is definitely tiny. They have to be tough because they get stepped on a lot. 🙂 They are similar to V. polita, but you have to look at the seeds to tell the difference. I have never been able to even find the seeds. I am glad to hear you have plenty of the Bluets. They are interesting wildflowers for sure, and you have them the first part of February. No snow to speak of and earlier wildflowers sounds like a great combination. It’s the attitude of latitude. 🙂 Take care and thanks for the comment!
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I think I recall seeing bluets here a year or two ago. Yours are little cuties (but not the mandarins).
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Hello Suzassippi! I wouldn’t be surprised if you have seen them there. They are very small so you can easily miss them. Take care and thanks for the comment!
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