woodland wildflower
Long-leaved bluets
Houstonia longifolia
Also known as Longleaf Summer Bluet, Pale Bluets
Native to much of the USA and southern Canada
Maine to Saskatchewan, south to Georgia and Louisiana
- Light Full sun to shade Sun tolerance
- Moisture Dry Moisture preference
- Zones 2–9 Cold to heat range
- Bloom Jun–Jun Flowering time
- Height up to 1 ft to 0.3 m
- Life cycle Perennial Annual to perennial
In the garden
A woodland wildflower for sun through shade and lean, dry soil. At up to 1 ft, it tucks into shade gardens and woodland edges. It shrugs off drought once established. Hardy in USDA zones 2–9.
Growing conditions
Light
Full sun Partial shade Full shade
Moisture
Dry Moist Wet
Hardiness zones
Find your zone:
Pollinators & wildlife
- Butterflies Karner Blue also Olympia Marble
Full plant details
Where it grows
- Habitat
- WoodlandThe wild plant community it grows in.
- Native range
- Much of the USA and southern CanadaUnited States (31): AL, AR, CT, DC, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, VA, VT, WI, WV. Canada (1): ON. Where it grows wild on its own, by state and province.
- Native distribution
- Maine to Saskatchewan, south to Georgia and LouisianaThe same native range, usually more exact than the state list, and often noting where it has spread beyond it.
Growing conditions
- Light
- Full sun to shadeHow much sun it takes, from full sun to full shade.
- Moisture
- DryThe soil dampness it prefers, from dry to wet.
- Hardiness zones
- USDA 2–9 · Canadian 2–7The cold-to-heat climate range it survives.
- Soil
- Moist, sandy or gravelly soilsThe soils it grows in naturally.
- Drought tolerance
- HighRelative to plants of the same type and region, inferred from where it grows, not a days-without-water figure.
Growth & form
- Height
- up to 1 ft (to 0.3 m)Typical mature height.
- Life cycle
- PerennialWhether it lives a single season (annual), two (biennial), or returns for years (perennial).
Flowers, foliage & fruit
- Type
- WildflowerWhat kind of plant it is.
- Bloom
- Jun–JunWhen it flowers.
- Flower color
- White, Pink, PurpleThe bloom color, or colors.
- Toxicity
- None knownWhether any part is poisonous to people or pets.