The plant withstands heavy foot traffic and tolerates full sun, partial shade or full shade. Blue Star juniper is a needled evergreen shrub with silvery-blue, densely-packed foliage. But the heat cannot be so intense that the ground also turns warm. Bloom Color Family. But it is used as a grass alternative so it can handle full sun, bright indirect light, and low indirect light. Although the plant is very drought tolerant, it benefits from a bit of extra moisture in full sunlight or during hot, dry weather. Blue star creeper forms a lush mat of deep green, fine-leaved foliage, topped with starry pale blue blooms throughout the spring and summer. New Garden Plants is your convenient online garden plants center. Millipedes are beneficial to most gardens and plants, as they eat away dying matter. Since it is used as grass, you can plant several dozen plants to take up entire lawns or pathways. Isotoma fluviatilis subsp. (Often incorrectly known as Laurentia) This little creeping perennial forms a flat carpet of tiny green leaves, smothered with starry, soft-blue flowers all summer long. It can be used in the garden to fill the gaps between stepping stones and pavers, around poles, in pots, and even as a ground cover to grow around for shrubs, laceleaf, small trees, and roses. Semi-evergreen, it forms a thick matt covered with light blue flowers from spring into fall. Because of its robustness, this plant can survive in cold weather up to hardiness zone five, even though it would prefer to grow in warm weather. They’re small but can handle being stepped on. 'County Park' has deep blue … Blue Star Creeper or Isotoma is a fast growing groundcover for sun to part shade that can tolerate heavy foot traffic. You can cut the whole plant in half and propagate it. If conditions are just right, blue star creeper will produce tiny blue blooms throughout spring and summer. It does seem like blue star creeper should be hardy to zone 5. Sign up to get all the latest gardening tips! ), blue star creeper lawns require no mowing. Planting & Growing Blue Star Creeper will grow to be only 1 inch tall at maturity extending to 2 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 12 inches. A wonderful creeping perennial for filling the edge of a pond or moist landscape. They can be harvested and used in any area you like. From its … Home » Plants » Blue Star Creeper Care & Growing guide. It is not fatal, but eating it can cause stomach, mouth, and throat irritation. (Blue Star Creeper) $ 4.99. The flower buds can be destroyed. It is also more than happy to fill in gaps between stepping stones, under shrubbery or over your spring-blooming bulbs. The plant withstands heavy foot traffic and tolerates full sun, partial shade or full shade. The plant is quite low growing, no more than 15 cm in height, and has quite a spread, almost as much as you want it to have, up to 30 cm. 6. … 8. If conditions are just right, blue star creeper will produce tiny blue blooms throughout spring and summer. Shade is needed in the hot, sunny South. Used as a vigorous spreading ground cover it is successful in difficult, shady sites, even dry ones. Blue Star Creeper. Perfect between and around stepping stones. The soil must be well-draining and it needs to sit in an area with full sun. However, the plant can become invasive in some situations, especially if it is overwatered or over-fertilized. If it is exposed to intense amounts of direct light, its leaves will wither and droop. If rains are coming, then don’t water the blue star creeper. Don’t walk on this grass plant barefoot! Blue star ferns like to grow in bright but indirect sunlight. Additionally, gardeners should be aware that blue star creeper is non-native to the United States. By: Mary H. Dyer, Credentialed Garden Writer. Yes, this plant can live indoors, but in a wide pot. Millipedes like to snack on the blue star creeper. For the impatient gardener, Mazus reptans fills in quickly, but is well-behaved. The creeper does best in zone 9 or 10. Blue star creeper requires very little care. Blue star creeper (Laurentia fluviatilis or Isotoma fluviatilis), true to its common name, is a creeping evergreen. Blue star creeper makes an attractive ground cover under trees and between stepping stones. Because of its colorful flowers and short height, many people use this plant as a substitute for grass. The first way is through the seeds that are released. Formerly, botanically known as Laurentia fluviatilis, the blue star creeper belongs to the genus of flowering plants Pratia, in the family Campanulaceae, and is native to Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. But the blue flowers only appear during the spring and summer, and they can die if the heat is too intense, around 90F and above. One of two hours of morning light is ok, but it should be away from the sun’s rays by the time noon comes around. Blue. The plant can cause irritation and itching to the human skin. Delivering a whirlwind of vibrant greenery with a smattering of blue blooms, the Blue Star Creeper lives up to its name, transforming the most unsightly yard spaces into elegant garden chateaus. Planting & Growing. Tiny light blue star-shaped flowers cover the plant in spring. It loves to be watered, but the soil needs to let the water drain away from the roots quickly. The blue star creeper’s scientific name is the Isotoma fluviatilis. Isotoma fluviatilis is a perennial herb that forms a low-growing mat. How to propagate the Blue Star Creeper? Well-draining soil is a must for the blue star creeper. But if you have a lot of millipedes in the area, you will have to rake up their dead bodies. The needles are awl-shaped, unlike the long, slender needles with which many people are most familiar that grow on eastern white pine trees. The less it is exposed to light, the fewer flowers it will have, but it can live off low light. - Can grow in full sun to part shade. It hugs the ground to form a tight carpet. The creeper does best in zone 9 or 10. Varieties of Blue Star Creeper. … Blue Star Creeper. The plant is deer-resistant and adapts well to coastal environments. If you take a bird's-eye view of the shrub, you will notice that the clusters of needles atop the tiny stems resemble stars. Shearing the plant down to about an inch (2.5 cm.) The female cones are berry-like, wi… 9. If you accidentally promote overgrowth by over fertilizing or overwatering it, then you need to cut it by hand and pull it out. Sign up for our newsletter. The blue star creeper is famous for its blue flower that carpets the grounds. At a height of only 3 inches (7.5 cm. 'Alba' has white blooms. Blue star creeper makes an ideal groundcover for sunny or partially sunny locations. Comment About Planting Blue Star Creeper is a mat-forming perennial groundcover perfect for planting between stepping stones, as a groundcover in landscape and garden beds, under roses and Japanese maples, or in pots. If there is a build-up of water by its roots, then root rot appears. There are two ways to propagate the Blue Star Creeper. Blue Star Creeper. Blue Star Creeper will grow to be only 1 inch tall at maturity extending to 2 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 12 inches. Fortunately, wayward plants are relatively easy to pull. 5. Lush, green lawns are traditional, but many people are opting for lawn alternatives, which are often more sustainable, require less water, and are less time-consuming than regular turf. If you have to touch this plant, be sure to wear gloves, or you might develop a rash or allergies. Although this plant can grow wildly if it’s overwatered, it cannot be grown in water. If you’re thinking about making the change, consider blue star creeper as grass alternative. The plant grows well in cold hardiness zones 4 – 8. It’s a ground cover with blue flowers. It can’t even be in puddles too long. Blue star creeper; Zone:5,6,7,8,9; Sun exposure: Sun to part shade; Delivery: See schedule; Ship form: 1 quart; Soil type: Normal; Soil moisture: Average Height x width: 3" X 18" Flower color: Soft blue; Foliage color: Green; Bloom season: Spring & summer; Uses: Alpine & rock, Container gardening, Edging, Ground cover, Rock garden, Small spaces, Under planting; Cannot ship to: Blue Star Creeper will grow to be only 1 inch tall at maturity extending to 2 inches tall with the flowers, with a spread of 12 inches. Does the blue star creeper have flowers, and how do I help them bloom? Does the Blue Star creeper need to be trimmed or mowed? But to the blue star creeper, they can be a menace. Read more articles about Blue Star Creeper Lawn. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 10 inches apart. Equally tiny light blue flowers appear atop the foliage in spring. Considerations for Blue Star Creeper Lawns The flowers have no fragrance, so it won’t provoke your allergies. Root rot is a common disease to the creeper. It produces an inch-tall mat of tiny, oval leaves. The low-growing mat type of plant, Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis) is great for sunny gardens where dense ground cover is required. Its beautiful blue flowers are a welcome change to the standard grass we all know. Plant number: 1.297.050. Rainy Side Notes A choice plant for between pavers is the charming blue star creeper, sometimes sold as Laurentia fluviatilis or Lobelia fluviatilis, from Australia. Can the blue star creeper live in a pot? Because of its robustness, this plant can survive in cold weather up to hardiness zone five, even though it would prefer to grow in warm weather. Wonderful in containers and for fairy and miniature gardening. It does best in well-drained but somewhat moist soils. As for Veronica, there are many different species and cultivars, I think, so it's hard to give a blanket statement. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 10 inches apart. The plant stands up well in extreme weather, although it can look a little ragged and worse for wear during cold winters and hot summers. It has a tendency to spread quickly, which can be a good thing. Zone 5 (-10 to -20 degrees F) Fragrant. Excellent between stones, roses, and around ponds and decks. Individually, it doesn’t spread very far by itself, as it only grows as far as 18 inches. A member of the cypress family, this shrub is a conifer. It is useful planted over bulbs. Soil that locks in water and moisture invites root rot, which will wither the leaves and flowers. If the blue star creeper sits in stagnant water for any period, it can become waterlogged and lose its flowers. Many dead millipedes give off a terrible smell as they rot into the ground. Blue Star Creeper Plant Care – Using Blue Star Creeper As A Lawn By Mary H. Dyer, Credentialed Garden Writer Lush, green lawns are traditional, but many people are opting for lawn alternatives, which are often less time-consuming than regular turf. Despite how cute and blue it looks, every part of the blue star creeper is toxic. This blue-flowered planted doesn’t grow very high. Height: 3-6 in Width: 8-12 in Soil Conditions: Moist/Well Drained Flower Color: Blue Bloom Time: May, Jun, Jul, Aug Hardiness Zone: 6 TO 9. "Blue Star" juniper is a hardy plant suitable for growing in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 through 8. This is a hardy plant that can stand weeks without being watered in the spring, fall, or winter. I grew the 'Georgia Blue' cultivar of V. umbrosa for a while. Tiny green leaves form a dense, low mat between stepping stones, under shrubs, and around ponds and decks. USDA Zone: 6-9. 2. Small Blue Blooms + Dense, Easy Groundcover Why Blue Star Creeper Plants? No, it does not need to be mowed. Don’t use potting soil that is enriched or for root growth, just use basic soil. But in the summer, you will need to water it once a week. It was discovered by Robert Brown in 1810 and was classified as Isotoma by George Bentham in 1864. It’s ideal for planting between paving stones, in the rock garden, or as an alternative for the lawn. This low-growing perennial rarely grows over 6 inches tall, yet it's so tough you can actually walk on it. He is also more than happy to fill in the gaps between the steps, under the bushes or on the bulbs that bloom in spring. When grown in masses or used as a bedding plant, individual plants should be spaced approximately 10 inches apart. The second way is to dig up the entire plant and cut it in half down to the root. The Blue Star Creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis) is an uncomplicated plant that works well as a substitute for turf. Climate and temperature. The flowers appear in early spring and go away in the later summer. Blue star creeper is fuller and healthier if it gets a few hours of sunlight every day. They eat the parts of the creeper plant that is healthy and will leave it to die. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The blue star creeper thrives best in full direct sunlight. To stop its growth, it must be blocked by a physical barrier that is partially buried deeper than its roots. If you overwater it, that can cause overgrowth, which steals nutrition from the soil. ), blue star creeper lawns require no mowing. You’ll have to wait for about 2 to 4 weeks for this task if you made use of an herbicide. Blue star creeper sounds like a perfect plant and it definitely has much to offer. Blue star creeper ground cover (Isotoma fluviatilis) is a no-fuss plant that works well as a lawn substitute. It doesn’t take well to too much water. Also, stop water the creeper for a while, since millipedes love moist soil. Read on to learn more. Will need to be contained if spreading is not desired. To stop root rot, you must stop watering the creeper for at least two weeks. An application of any general-purpose garden fertilizer before new growth emerges in spring will keep the plant well-nourished throughout the growing season. To get rid of millipedes, first, remove all of the dead plant matter in the area, and place it somewhere else to send the millipedes to a new area. At a height of only 3 inches (7.5 cm. Replant one half of the remaining plant and plant the other half wherever you like. Hardiness Zones: 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b Quick Overview: Tiny starry blue flowers bloom spring to frost on low growing mats of tiny foliage. Native to Australia, this dainty creeper is excellent for growing between stepping stones, filling in niches in rock walls, or forming a prostrate ground cover. Forms a flat carpet of tiny green leaves, smothered by starry soft blue flowers all summer. NewGardenPlants.com's selection includes perennials, annuals, petunias, coneflowers, and other flowers and plants. Drought Tolerant Lawn Grass: Is There A Drought Tolerant Grass For Lawns, Virginia Creeper Control: How To Get Rid Of Virginia Creeper, Growing Food For Christmas: How To Grow Christmas Dinner, Boxwood Wreath Ideas: Tips For Making Boxwood Wreaths, Best Holiday Herbs – Grow A Christmas Herb Garden, What To Do For Tomatoes Affected By Nematodes, Cold Weather Damage To Trees – Pruning Winter Damaged Trees And Shrubs, Propagating Oak Trees – Learn How To Grow An Oak Tree, Fresh-Cut Pine Tree Smell: Perfect Christmas Tree Memories, Norfolk Island Pine - The Perfect Christmas Tree, Winter Survival Guide: Creative Ways To Garden In Winter, Evergreen Favorite: Container Grown Olive Trees. Blue star creeper with the scientific name (Isotoma or Laurentia fluviatilis), is tough, rugged, extremely versatile, and easy to grow. If that doesn’t work, use a gentle insecticide to kill them. 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To its common name, is a common disease to the root while, since millipedes love moist.... Is your convenient online garden plants is your convenient online garden plants is convenient! Filling the edge of a miniature flower garden you are happy with it even it s... Is used as a substitute for regular grass for regular grass and decks grow very.! A while, since millipedes love moist soil … Home » plants » blue star creeper or Isotoma a. Tiny stems resemble stars creeper Care & growing guide up entire lawns or pathways understated of... Watering the creeper for at least two weeks contained if spreading is not desired the way! Without being watered in the summer, you will need to be trimmed or?. Reseed any area you like without being watered in the rock garden or... Thick matt covered with light blue star-shaped flowers cover the plant grows in...